Girls Basketball

OUTLOOK: Guard play important to Hamilton’s success during 2019-2020 season

By Chris Vogt

Posted on November 11, 2019

Hamilton junior point guard Leah Smith will look to play a vital role in providing a boost for the Big Blue this season. AJ FULLAM/6SPhoto.com

HAMILTON — The Hamilton High girls basketball team is looking to better its 10-13 record from last season.

Big Blue coach Harry Phillips enters his fourth year at the helm.

Here’s a snapshot of the Hamilton girls basketball program:

2018-2019 POSTSEASON: Lost to Mercy McAuley 70-43 in the first round of the Division I tournamant.

2019-2020 SEASON OPENER: Monday, Nov. 25 at home against Lebanon at 7:15 p.m.

RETURNING STARTERS: Leah Smith, Anna Cardwell, Kira Ash and Jayden Isaacs.

NOTABLE: CiCi Riggins, who graduated this past school year, broke the all-time scoring and rebound record at Hamiton a season ago.

QUOTABLE: “Top priorities this year shall be to exploit our two guards Leah Smith and Anna Cardwell,” Phillips said. “Both potentially have the ability to take over games themselves. … I’m extremely blessed to have these young ladies this year. Along with the new additions to our coaching staff in Kevin Aldridge, former coach at Middletown, and Heather Mack, formerly of the Middletown staff, Tony Mattia, Lauren Booth and Scott Phillips — they will all play an intricate roll in building the Big Blue brand. … Leah Smith is our recruited Division I prospect to go to Tennesee State, and she has grown by leaps and bounds. Her attributes are leadership qualities and strength of character. Leah has to become one of our primary scorers this year, alongside Anna Cardwell who shall assume the scoring roll as CiCi did the previous year. Our guard play shall be extremely important to our success this year. … Jayden Issacs, Alessa Harrison, and Ajnique Aldridge will be our blue collar workers. … Journee Hicks, a Fairfield transfer, and Kira Ash are more than capable of caring our team as well.”