After a stretch away from home during gym renovations, the Dickson County High basketball teams finally got to lace up on familiar hardwood last week. The return brought energy, but not the results they were hoping for, as both the Lady Cougars and Cougars came up short against visiting South Gibson.
For the Lady Cougars, a 40-27 loss to South Gibson was followed by a 53-40 defeat at the hands of Nolensville. It’s been a rocky start to the season, and head coach Erin Webb isn’t shying away from the challenges her team is facing-especially with key players Kailey Beene and Elizabeth Dunnagan sidelined due to injuries.
“We’ve had a slow start to the season,” Webb admitted. “Not having Kailey and Elizabeth has really affected us.”
Those injuries have forced senior Keely Webb into a heavier role at point guard. While she’s no stranger to running the offense, the absence of other reliable ballhandlers has made breaking full-court pressure a real issue for the Lady Cougars.
Against Nolensville, that pressure was a problem early. Dickson County trailed big at halftime, but the second half told a different story. The Lady Cougars adjusted, handled the press more effectively, and showed flashes of what they could be when things start clicking.
“We came out in the second half and played really well, beating their full court press easily,” Webb said. “It hasn’t been the start we wanted for the season, though. We’re obviously not where we want to be, but I like what this team is made of, and I have a lot of confidence that we’ll get there.”
There’s no questioning the effort. The concern now is balance.
Against Nolensville, Keely Webb and Coralee Grove combined for 31 of the team’s 40 points. That kind of top-heavy scoring load isn’t sustainable, especially with a long season ahead.
“We’ve got too many options, too many weapons for those two to be that much of the scoring,” Webb said. “The injuries obviously affect that, but we’ve got to find other ways to score the ball.”
Even in defeat, there are signs of growth. Keely Webb again led the way with 10 points in the South Gibson game, while Lily Christian chipped in six. It’s clear the Lady Cougars are still searching for rhythm and depth, but the pieces are there-it’s just a matter of putting them together.
As for the Cougars, their 48-39 loss to South Gibson wrapped up their schedule before the Thanksgiving break. The boys didn’t travel to Nolensville, so that South Gibson matchup served as their final tune-up before a big week ahead.
Both squads were set to return to action at home Tuesday against Clarksville, with another test coming Thursday when they host Northeast. With the gym now back open and the season ramping up, Dickson County has a chance to reset and start building some momentum on their home floor.