Photo of Coach Lewis. Taken by Ari Guzman.
This basketball season, the Lady Saxons have added some new faces to their varsity, who all carry an important role in the team.
“We have a lot of seniors this year. They all know how I coach and what to expect. It has been great to see the new faces such as Layla Palmer ‘26, Chica Casas ‘26, Autumn Palmer ‘29 and Kerington Wadsworth ’27. They bring in new energy and skill set that has made us better this year. Layla is a senior but coming off an ACL injury. She brings IQ to the team and the competitiveness that we need. Wadsworth brings the energy and hustle. She is very positive and flies around on the court,” Lewis said.
Autumn Palmer
Before the season started, Autumn Palmer was already showing the coaching staff that she had what it takes to be on the varsity team by showing them she had all the aspects.
“We see if they can keep up with the speed and physicality of a varsity game. Early on, we could see that this did not affect her abilities. Now it is about growing her confidence and putting her in situations to succeed. She has the talent and is constantly showing how she can be great. She is a big part of why we are 12-2 right now and she has not even reached her full potential,” Lewis said.
Chica Casas
Chica Casas ‘26 is not only a new member of the team but also new to South after transferring here from West Salem High School.
“Her role is to be herself. I think she was trying to fit in early on. We need her to be the player she has always been. A relentless defender and someone who can control the pace of our offense. She is a quiet leader and we need her to continue to show her dominance on both ends,” Lewis said.
Goals of the season
After winning the Capital City Classics (CVC) League title last year, the Lady Saxons plan on bringing the win home once again.
“This year, we are trying to focus on the details that can make a big impact for this team. I believe we have the talent, but can we get better at the little things like communication on and off the court and being physical [rebounding]. Also, understanding the scouting report and executing the plan,” Lewis said.
With their goal, they plan on focusing on the physical aspect of the team. Making sure everyone understands their plays and how to be good offensive players.
“We need to get more physical as a team. We need to bring this into practice and keep them accountable. We also need to do a better job executing on offense. Making sure we screen better and understand our reads out of it,” Lewis said.
Before the regular season began, Lewis signed up the team to participate in the Surf N Slam tournament in San Diego.
“I think the San Diego trip helped us tremendously. I love doing trips away from Salem because girls have to be with each other nonstop. They have to live with each other and sleep in the same room. This is where we get to know each other more and connect in ways that a basketball court cannot. I think it brought us together more, and winning third at the tournament helped with our confidence as well,” Lewis said.
