From left, members of Lancaster High’s varsity girls basketball team are (front row) Raven Love, Lauren James, Trenae Henderson, Arkasia Sutton and Tala Henderson; (next row) Sharda Beane, Tykasia Gaskins, Aaliyah Morris-Lee, Anesha White, Shamerah Taylor and Tomasia Kelly. Aleyah Davenport is also a member of the team. Photo by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi

“This is a very hard-working bunch,” said Webb-Fary. “Defense is their strength and that’s what we’re highlighting.”

So far the varsity Lady Devils are racking up the wins, picking up three non-district victories last week over Mathews, Middlesex and West Point.

Lancaster got by West Point, 35-32, Monday and downed Mathews, 45-23, last Thursday. The Lady Devils routed Middlesex, 68-22, last Wednesday with four players in double digits. Returners Arkasia Sutton and Sharda Beane scored 11 points each and Shamerah Taylor and Tykasia Henderson scored 10 each.

Taylor, a senior guard in her fourth year on the team, has emerged as the leading scorer, according to Webb-Fary.

“But that changes with each game. She’s probably averaging the most, but Trenae [Henderson] comes on strong at the point and Sharda has a lot of good nights. It’s really whoever is on that game.”

Webb-Fary returns four of her starters from last year including Taylor, senior guard Sutton, junior guard Tr. Henderson and junior forward Anesha White. New to the starting lineup is returning senior center Aleyah Davenport.

“Anesha is our utility player,” said Webb-Fary. “She’s smart, a good defender, can play guard and forward. We’ll use her in a variety of roles.”

Tykasia Gaskins came off the bench last week to score eight of her 10 points in the fourth quarter. She’s a junior who will get playing time at forward along with juniors Beane, Tomasia Kelly and Aaliya Morris-Lee. Morris-Lee scored eight points against the Chargers.

Playing at guard will be juniors Tala Henderson, Lauren James and Raven Love.

“Our shooting is not the best yet, but that’s something we’re working on and it will improve,” said Webb-Fary.

Junior varsity

Marcus Ferguson takes the helm as first-year head coach of the JV Lady Devils and returns two starters in freshman point guard Zyhkeia Bullock and sophomore center Rodesha Veney.

Ferguson is a special education assistant at Lancaster High School and is also an assistant football and track coach.

Bullock scored 13 points, including five of Lancaster’s seven first-quarter points, to lead the Lady Devils in a 31-16 win over Middlesex last Wednesday.

Freshman forward Aloni Scott added eight for LHS.

Scott, Bullock and Veney are joined in the starting five by eighth-grade guard Nia Curry and eighth-grade forward Diamond Taylor.

Also playing guard this season will be eighth-grader Jasmyn Tomlin and sophomore Jay Gregory. Getting in at forward will be eighth-grader Khanija Waters and sophomore Kyndall James.

Eighth-grader Kevilyn Harcum will see time at center while sophomore Precious Boyd will get in at both center and forward.

A team strength is defense, said Ferguson.

“They can pressure the ball,” he said, “but that sometimes leads to foul trouble because they’re so aggressive with their bodies.”

GIRLS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

December 17 King William

December 18 at Middlesex

January 4 Essex

January 10 Washington & Lee

January 17 Rappahannock

January 22 Northumberland

January 24 at Essex

January 29 at Washington & Lee

January 31 Colonial Beach

February 5 at Northumberland

February 7 at Rappahannock