The North Callaway girls’ program present and future was on display Friday in Higbee.

Ladybirds at Higbee Shootout Photo Gallery

The Ladybirds lost its first two scrimmages this summer, dropping games to Fayette and Higbee while defeating Stanberry on June 16, to move to 7-2. However, the program’s first-year head coach Andrew Klein had a rare opportunity.

The volleyball head coach, which he will be continuing to serve as, and the boys basketball assistant coach the previous two years didn’t have his full roster on this particular day. Upcoming eighth-graders — and younger sisters to Natalie Shryock and Lakyn Hartley — Anna Shryock and Livia Hartley filled out the Ladybird ranks this time after showing up to optional summer workouts.

“They’re not going to be on our team this next year, but they play hard,” Klein said. “They came in and played really good minutes against varsity players. I think they had fun.”

Klein said he is excited for the future that will include them, but the near future with this year’s team is exciting enough as reigning all-conference and all-district players Riley Blevins and Natalie Shryock will be back. Lakyn Hartley also was a difference-maker off the bench last season and proved to be disruptive on the defensive end on Friday as there were several times she came away with a steal and easy transition layup.

North Callaway is coming off a 15-12 season, which was its first winning season in six years, led by Tim Turlington. Klein said he is thankful to Turlington for leaving the program in the shape it is in.

“I’m happy I’m taking over something that doesn’t need a ton of reconstruction,” Klein said. “I’m getting a veteran group, and our seniors and juniors are really good leaders. That’s important to me because I can’t play. They speak up and do a good job doing that.”

There is some familiarity with some of the girls already, Klein said, as Shryock, Blevins and Hartley play volleyball in the fall. Those three and the rest of the girls have helped Klein adjust to his new role.

“We’re going back to basics with some things that we’re all on the same page,” Klein said. “I’m adjusting to it just fine because I coached basketball for the boys team these past few years. I’ve always done summer basketball stuff, and now I’m the guy that gets to call the shots.

“We’ve got a lot of learning to do, but the girls are very receptive of me as a coach. I want to thank coach Turlington for leaving it in good shape. They play hard for him, and they play hard for me.”