GAINESVILLE — Even Web Daniel admitted it was tough to watch at times last season.
The long-time Chestatee girls basketball coach is used to having shooters and multiple options in his half-court offensive attack. But when then-senior and 3-point specialist Kayla Watson went down with an early-season injury, things just never got back on track as the Lady War Eagles suffered through a 12-14 season.
“Kayla came back but she was only about 60 percent and we had a relatively young team, and we just couldn’t score consistently,” Daniel said. “It was tough at times because we played good defense, but you have to be able to score. We just had trouble all season.”
That was then. This is now.
The War Eagles (10-0, 1-0 Region 7-AAAA) have soared out of the gates so far, opening the season with a program-record best start after Tuesday night’s 45-38 win over White County in both team’s region openers. The previous best in wins to open a season was six.
The 10 wins lead Class AAAA so far in the early part of the season, and the Lady War Eagles are one of just three unbeaten teams still left in the classification.
Daniel, however, said he is not surprised by the quick start.
“We had a great summer. We won 27 straight games (during the summer),” he said. “I felt coming into the season that this could be one of the best teams we’ve ever had.”
So far, the offense is showing signs of when the Lady War Eagles won 47 games in back-to-back seasons (2012-14). Daniel has five bona fide 3-point shooters to choose from, and they are averaging 51 points a game. They averaged just 42.6 ppg last season.
Seniors Brooklyn Popham, Dawndria Bell and Eramiss Hernandez, and juniors Lindsey Caudell and Peri Satterfield all have had big shooting nights in the first three weeks. Popham drained six treys in a win over Jackson County and Satterfield is connecting on over 40 percent of her 3-point attempts. Caudell already has a pair of 30-point games in the books.
Senior Morgan Bryant and junior Maggie Brechter provide inside muscle. Brechter (6-foot-2) is averaging over 2 blocks a game. Senior Becca Eddins and freshman freshman Maggie McNair offer quality minutes off the bench.
Couple that with a defense that is in the top three in Class AAAA -- allowing just 32 ppg -- and it’s easy to explain the success. Also, they are averaging just 6 turnovers a contest compared to 16 a game last season.
“Turnovers were a big problem last year and that really contributed to us not being able to score. We just hurt ourselves a lot,” Daniel said. “We have done a good job of cutting down on those kinds of mistakes so far.”
Chemistry is also playing a big factor for the Lady War Eagles. Most of the group has been together since middle school and players like Caudell and Popham are stepping to the fore at the right time.
“They’ve known each other and played together a long time so I felt that would be a positive factor for us as well,” Daniel said. “They are a very unselfish group. Sometimes they may pass it too much, actually. They’ve given up some open looks to make a pass. I just want them to take the open shot but it’s working so far so it’s hard to complain.”
The Lady War Eagles will take on Forsyth Central on Saturday and then will head to the Jones County Christmas Tournament, where they will open with West Laurens on Monday. They are hoping for a showdown with Class AAAAA No. 5 Warner Robins (8-0) on Tuesday.
“If both teams can win the first one then I think that will be our first real big test,” Daniel said. “It will be good for this group to see how they measure up to the best teams.”
No matter how the Jones County tournament shakes out, Daniel knows his Lady War Eagles will get a test in the annual Lanierland Tournament, which begins Dec. 28 at North Hall. Chestatee opens against Gainesville, which finished third in 2015. Chestatee took sixth last year.
The Lady War Eagles won Lanierland in 2013, their only Lanierland championship thus far.
“Lanierland is the best tournament in the state every year. Every team is tough. We hope to be able to compete for the title but there will be no easy games,” he said.
Chestatee next will play host to Lumpkin County on Friday in a non-region battle.
