Not many teams with a freshman point guard are considered to be legitimate contenders to win a league championship. Hart County may be the exception.
The addition of freshman Torrion Starks has helped solidify the team’s four returning players and has put the No. 4 Bulldogs (18-3) in a position to challenge No. 1-ranked Morgan County for supremacy in Region 8-AAA.
“If we could have played her last year as an eighth grader, we would have,” Hart County coach Mike Edwards said. “She has solidified us and allows everyone to play in their proper positions.”
Starks averages 13 points, six assists and five steals, but has a pass-first mentality, Edwards said.
The Bulldogs start three seniors, including Damiya Montgomery, a 5-foot-7 guard who averages 15 points. Montgomery is the first player signed by the new women’s program at Life University. The other seniors are Jada Fouch and Dasia Oglesby, a pair of 5-10 post players who combine to averages 12 points and 15 rebounds.
The other starter is junior Maeisha Teasley, a 5-6 guard, who averages 14 points.
“Our scoring is very balanced,” Edwards said. “You never know where it’s going to come from.”
Hart County’s aggressive defensive style helps feed the offense.
Hart County will have a rematch with Morgan County on Tuesday in Madison. Morgan won the first game by 11 points, but it was a five-point game until the last few minutes. The other two losses have come to Westside of Anderson, S.C., a top-10 team that features a McDonald’s All-America candidate.
