Coach Joe Lucas started three freshmen on Friday night against Madison. That might sound alarming…until learning that Luray won, 61-20. Not only did Donovan hit four three-pointers, eight of the 10 players on the team contributed points.
Coach Lucas doesn’t have a single senior on this year’s roster — and only two juniors. He is instead leaning on his freshman duo of Donovan and Emily Benson, who continue to be competitive against older, more experienced players. Freshman Lakin Vile also starts at guard. Junior Ella Parlett provides an offensive spark as well and offers some level of experience on the team.
Donovan is the younger sister of former All-District and All-Region selection Emily Donovan, who is a freshman herself this season for the Royals of Eastern Mennonite University — playing under former LHS standout and 1,000-point scorer Jenny (Logan) Posey. The Royals are 8-5 in the early portion of the season, and Emily has seen some minutes in seven of EMU’s 13 games. The LHS alum has made the most of those minutes by going 50 percent from the floor (2-4 FG) and at the line (1-2 FT), while also hitting the only three-pointer that she has attempted.
As a freshman, Emily was part of the 2021 state championship team that featured another Emilee (Weakley), who has become one of the nation’s best players at the NCAA Division II level. Coach Lucas is trying to get the Bulldogs back to the state tournament, after three-straight appearances in the state title game during the COVID years.
Last season was a tough one for the Bulldogs. This season is showing improvement. With talented young players like Caroline Donovan and Emily Benson, Coach Lucas could see a return to VCU’s Siegel Center over the next few seasons.
Be the first to comment