Carter girls basketball off to fast start with 3-pointers

Mike Blackerby
For USA TODAY Network - Tennessee

Tickets are in high demand at a high school gym in East Knoxville.

In past years, you couldn’t have given them away.

It has been a while, but Carter girls basketball is finally cool again.

The 3-point crazy Lady Hornets have won their first eight games of the season by an average of 29 points.

Carter's Z Clark, left, and Bailey trumm fight for the rebound with Central's Lopez during the Tennova Tip-Off Classic at Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday, November 9, 2016.

It’s believed to be the best start in school history.

The fast start is the continuation of a striking program revival under third-year coach Bo Lewis.

Carter won just 81 games in 13 years prior to the arrival of Lewis, who previously coached at Jefferson County.

The Lady Hornets finished 12-13 in his first season before going 22-12 a year ago – the most wins in a season in 15 years at Carter.

Some of the records over the last 15 seasons reflect the futility of the program: 1-24, 1-20, 3-22, 3-17.

“The culture is something we’ve had to work on,” said Lewis.

“We’ve had to work on turning around a losing tradition. Something we put up in our locker room is about positive energy and positive atmosphere. We’ve tried to make it a positive culture.”

Bailey Trumm, one of four sophomore guards who start for the Lady Hornets, said Lewis has been a difference maker.

“He knows each person’s strengths and weaknesses and helps us be the best player we can be,” said Trumm, who leads the team in scoring at 17.1 points a game.

Jordan Heifner, Trumm’s running mate in the backcourt, said Lewis is the ultimate player’s coach.

“He has a bond with each of us,” she said.

3-pointers from Trumm

Trumm made a school-record 113 3-point shots last season and is 31 of 70 (44 percent) from beyond the arc this season. As a team, the Lady Hornets have already fired up 201 triples and made 76.

They’re well on their way to eclipsing last year’s 3-point totals of 240-for-638.

“Our offensive philosophy is to attack,” explained Lewis.

“We do shoot a ton of 3s, but our thought process is: inside-out game and stretch the defense. Our offense equals attack, attack, kick. It’s a fun offense. Realistically, I’d like us to shoot 800 3s this season if we can.”

Trumm and Heifner, who work interchangeably at point and off guard, key the Carter attack.

Heifner averages 11.9 points and leads the Lady Hornets with 4.1 assists and 4 steals a game.

“The two of them bring a lot of enthusiasm daily to practice and that delivers to the games,” said Lewis. “As sophomores, both have stepped up and become leaders of the team.”

Sophomore Evie DePetro (10.4 ppg, 3.8 assists) and senior Sarah Irwin (8.1 ppg, 5.3 rebounds) are the other two starters at guard.

Zarria Clark, at 5-foot-9, plays in the post and averages a team-high 6.1 rebounds.

Taylor Webb scores 6.6 points off the bench.

“We’re a smaller team and a team of guards,” said Lewis.

“We’ve got a team of gym rats. Their work ethic is what I’m most pleased with this year.”

Community darlings

Lewis said the Carter fans have taken note of the team in a big-time way.

“Honestly, I couldn’t brag on our community any more,” he said. “They are so involved with our program. It’s nice seeing the gym fill up by 6 or 6:30.

“As a coach, it’s nice hearing from community members who have been around for a long time saying how hard the girls play. That’s the ultimate compliment you can get as a coach.”

Mike Blackerby is a freelance contributor