Despite struggles, Collier’s Lady Spartans enjoy Sr. Night
KNOXVILLE — Steady improvement — not worrying about her team’s win total — has been the focus of Shelley Collier, a regional legend as Webb School of Knoxville girls basketball head coach who is much more used to lifting up state title trophies than dealing with losing records.
For all the Lady Spartans’ struggles in this pandemic-plagued season, Collier’s girls took out some frustration on Grace Christian Academy in a 47-23 rout on Webb Senior Night Friday, Jan. 29.
“This year has been crazy, and just to watch them have success tonight and enjoy that moment was very, very special,” said Collier, whose team picked up its sixth victory, all in district, this season.
Madelyn Ladd, sophomore guard/forward, led the Lady Spartans in scoring with a game-high 17 points. Forward Kristen Sampson, one of three Webb girls honored on Senior Night alongside point guard Britney Collier and guard Emery Green, followed with nine.
“These three girls are pretty close …they’re all three like my daughters, really,” coach Collier said in reference to her seniors — with Britney, the coach’s youngest daughter, her final Collier player at Webb. “We’ve had a Collier in the program the last 10 years.”
Shae Berry, junior guard, added five points. Other Webb scorers were Britney Collier with three, while three others each added two points: Green, Lily Hirsh and Sydney Stinson.
