The Sage Informer

The Monticello Sages Girls Basketball team starts their season in less than a month with sudden coaching staff alterations.

 In past years, the Sages have had Mike Moffet as their Junior Varsity Coach and Dave Beery as their Varsity Head Coach. The Sages had a new addition to their coaching staff last season after having Assistant Coach Monica Hall take a coaching job for the Bement Bulldogs Girls Basketball team. The new coaching recruit, Kim Davis, graduated from Arthur, Illinois and joined the Sages coaching staff in 2020. 

The new head coach is Seth Melton. Melton has never coached a highschool team before, making the Lady Sages his first experience. Melton graduated from Monticello High School and played basketball all four years.

In addition to a new Head Coach, the Sages have a new Junior Varsity and Assistant Coach, Devyn Kyler. She played through high school at Centennial and Wheaton College. Kyler also played soccer and volleyball and has many accomplishments for those along with basketball, including multiple players of the week awards, regional and conference championships, and getting named Elite 8 in volleyball. 

 “We want to win obviously, who doesn’t want to win? But we want to improve and really build our girls basketball program and set good standards for the players to come,” said Davis. 

Melton hasn’t gotten to experience the high school girls basketball program, but he has goals he wants to accomplish this season. “I can’t speak to past coaches or their styles, but we’re going to have fun and compete,” Melton shared. “ We are going to work hard, but we’re going to have fun. Basketball is an amazing sport, and I want the girls to enjoy playing it. I want to build a strong, team mindset and culture; build a strong program.”

 “Stylistically, we’re going to play strong, aggressive defense and we’re going to develop smart, well-rounded basketball players,” he continued. “ I want our girls to have a strong work ethic, play hard-nosed and with heart, and be competitive in every game. I truly feel the sky is the limit for this team and for our program.”

The Sages went 3-9 last season and were ranked 5th in the Illini Prairie Conference. They were led by their only senior, Hailey Moore, and juniors Lizzie Stiverson, Macey Hicks, and Renni Fultz. This year, all three girls returned to play their senior year with the addition of current senior Hannah Swanson. Hannah played her sophomore year and took a break her junior year. 

The Sages’ biggest issue this season is number. “I think the biggest issue with girls basketball is it’s hard and girls don’t want to have to come out, be held accountable, and put in the work. But having four seniors this year, I think is going to make a difference and encourage more girls to try out the sport,” said Davis. 

The Lady Sages are currently having open gyms three days a week and will move into their season practices at the start of November, with their first game coming up within the first three weeks of practice.

Taylor Dyer, Staff Writer
dyeta24@sages.us