Carnell looks to improve his team's toughness

Zach Carnell is stepping up his basketball team’s competition this summer with an experienced group of Hickory Flat Lady Rebels returning for the 2026-27 season.

They will be playing summer league games at Northeast Mississippi Community College, Itawamba Community College, Freed-Hardeman University and Blue Mountain Christian University.

“We return all but one from last season,” he said. “All of our sophomores to seniors have played a lot of minutes.

“Summer is very important. We are playing good competition to get seasoned for the upcoming year. We are trying to keep building on the last two years.”

Last season the Lady Rebels finished 18-12 and were eliminated by Biggersville in the opening round of the Class 1A state playoffs.

The roster includes seniors Ladextini Tipler and Ella Hoyle, juniors Abby Rowland, Randall Sanders, Emma Arnold and Laklin Williams, sophomore Olivia Beth Roberson and freshmen Alayna Bennett, Kilyn Hoskins, Cassadee Westmoreland, Aubrey Roberson, Journey Poole and Mallorie Oswalt.

“We are mainly trying to focus on improving toughness and overcoming adversity,” Carnell said. “This group has been in some battles but needs to improve on becoming unshaken when things are not smooth. I am trying to push them in games this summer and in practices to help build that confidence. Also, I would like to see more aggressiveness on defense and cut out any lazy habits.”

He also wants his older players to build up the younger ones to create a trend of growth.

“As this group gels, my hope is that the domino effect continues to trickle down throughout the younger girls,” Carnell said. “That is something we try to implement at our camps, the older kids really working with the younger ones.”