Chesterfield – With the way last season ended, the 2023-24 Chesterfield High girls basketball team enters the season with something to prove.
Chesterfield went 19-6 last season but suffered a first-round upset loss to Barnwell in the Class AA Lower State playoffs. That defeat ended a successful season but left coach Nick Jolly and his team thinking about what might have been.
“It was a disappointing end, kind of sudden,” Jolly said. “We are trying to use that as motivation. The girls we have returning are hungry for more. Hopefully we can have another shot in the postseason.”
The hungry Rams have certainly gotten off to a good start this season, winning their first seven contests in impressive fashion. That total includes a region 5-AA win over Buford on Dec. 12.
The Rams are led this season by senior guard Kierra Diggs, who has been a varsity starter since her eighth-grade year. Diggs is averaging 22 points per game this season and should eclipse the 1,000-point career plateau before Christmas.
“She’s our leader, a real experienced player and she is playing well early,” Jolly said. “We are working to find more consistency offensively from the other girls. We are playing great defense as a team, allowing about 22 points per game. We don’t have a lot of size so we have to rebound as a team. It’s going to take a team effort in everything we do.”
Jolly is using eighth-grader Yaya Robinson as the starting point guard this fall. Robinson has added about eight points per game and has not turned the ball over much early on.
Senior Jaeda Johnson is another veteran performer, playing in the post. Johnson is currently averaging eight points and eight rebounds per outing.
Juniors Kai Pace and Temia Chapman fill the other starting roles, with junior Kaylee Eubanks and eighth-grader Reagan Rivers seeing considerable minutes and combining for about six points per game.
Rounding out the roster this season are juniors Paige Wharton and Jalah Cash, and sophomores Jordan Evans and Jaylen Evans.
“This team works hard and they are a competitive group,” the coach said. “We still have plenty to work on. We certainly need to keep improving each week. We need every player to contribute in whatever way they can,”
Jolly says defending region champion Andrew Jackson is again the team to beat in region 5-AA. Andrew Jackson went 12-0 in the region a year ago. Chesterfield and Andrew Jackson were scheduled to play for the first time this season on Dec.15.
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