Lady Pack basketball set to make impact | High School | lufkindailynews.com

Lufkin’s Lady Panthers return an experienced group of players that made the playoffs last year and will look to improve on that in a new district in 2024-25.

Lufkin (11-19, 4-6 last season) finished fourth in 16-5A last season and fell to Tyler in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Lady Panthers move into 10-5A this year, with Nacogdoches being the only team that moved over with Lufkin.

Lufkin will start the season with five straight road games, with the opener Tuesday at Tyler Legacy.

The Lady Panthers have a pair of first-team all-district performers in Trinity Maxie and Akira Smallwood, and the district co-newcomer of the year Mariah Mays, returning from last year’s squad.

Junior Akira Smallwood, a 5-foot-8 guard/forward, led the team in scoring at 9.1 points per game, in rebounding at 6.8 and steals at 3.1 a game.

Senior Trinity Maxie, a 5-foot-7 guard, was second on the team in scoring at 7.2 and led the team in assists at 3.8 per game.

Mays, a 5-foot-11 sophomore guard/forward, averaged 6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Senor 5-foot-8 forward Aaliyah Maxie was a second-team all-district choice, averaging 5.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

Other returners include junior guard Mallorie Pinner (6 points per game), senior forward A’Nana Taylor, junior guard Jaz’Lynn Neal and senior forward A’Naiya Teal.

Newcomers include 5-foot-8 sophomore guard/forward Kayla Rodgers, 5-foot-7 freshman guard Cloey Armstead and 5-foot-9 freshman forward Aleciara Smallwood.

The Lady Panthers’ new district includes Whitehouse, Tyler, Texas High, Nacogdoches, Mt. Pleasant, Hallsville, Jacksonville and Marshall.

Tyler went 30-10 last season, falling in the third round of the playoffs. Jacksonville was 26-11 and lost in the second round of the playoffs.

The Lady Panthers will play in the Hudson tournament Dec. 5-7 and in the Aggieland tournament the last week in December.

In Class 3A, last year’s state finalist Huntington will open its season Friday at Nacogdoches. Huntington(36-7 last season) is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A Texas Association of Basketball Coaches rankings. The Devilettes’ first home game is Tuesday, Nov. 5 against Chireno.

Pineywoods Community Academy (33-7 last season) opens the season on the road at Coldspring Tuesday. The Lady Wolves will host Hudson on Friday, Nov. 8.

Central (20-10 last season) will open the season at Hudson Friday and will play at home Tuesday against Brookeland.

Diboll (17-15 last season) opens its season at home Tuesday, Nov. 5 against Douglass.

In Class 4A, Hudson opens at home Friday against Central and will host Livingston on Tuesday.

In Class A, Zavalla (24-9 last season), which went three rounds in the playoffs last year before falling to Slocum, will open at home Tuesday against West Sabine.

Edwin Quarles’ email address is

[email protected].

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