BY EVAN BROWN
FOR THE OBSERVER
AUBURN — Lee-Scott Academy’s girls basketball enters the 2026-27 season with a familiar group, an experienced senior class and a message head coach Corye Harrison said she hopes will carry the Lady Warriors throughout the year: iron sharpens iron.
The phrase has become the team’s identity heading into the season, reflecting an emphasis on accountability and pushing one another to improve both on and off the court.
“We’re going to make sure we make each other better in every aspect, not just on the basketball court,” Harrison said. “These girls’ identity is not found in basketball; it’s found in Jesus Christ.”
The Lady Warriors return nine players from last season’s roster — including four seniors — after finishing 20-10 and winning the Class 3A Area 6 title. Lee-Scott also reached the regional tournament for the first time in program history, giving the returning group postseason experience heading into this year’s campaign.
“Experience is a huge, huge benefit,” Harrison said. “When the game’s close and it’s towards the end of the game, the moments aren’t very big. They’re just used to it, and they just know they’re going to compete until the buzzer goes off.”
Junior guard Clarke Ivatt will once again be a central part of the Lady Warriors’ plans. The standout guard is coming off a sophomore season in which she averaged 22.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.3 steals per game.
Ivatt surpassed 1,000 career points last season, becoming the youngest player in Lee-Scott history to reach the milestone. She has also earned Alabama Sports Writers Association all-state recognition in each of her two seasons.
Harrison said Ivatt’s influence goes beyond her production. Her teammates regularly want to play alongside her during practice, and she believes she takes pride in making those around her better.
Ivatt has her own area of focus heading into her junior season, particularly improving her outside shooting and free-throw percentage.
“My three-point percentage was not great last year, so that’s been a main focus for me,” Ivatt said. “Also, free throws. I just want to make sure that whenever I get the chance for free points, I take the opportunity.”
She said she also views the defensive attention she attracts as an opportunity to create chances for her teammates.
“I think it’s just a great way for me to help find my teammates when I’m drawing two and looking for the open man,” Ivatt said. “I feel like it really opens up the floor for everyone else.”
The Lady Warriors will have an experienced group around Ivatt, led by seniors Haynes Keesee, Maggie Herndon, Sydney Dunlap and Lucy Zellner. Herndon was Lee-Scott’s second-leading scorer last season at 7.3 points per game, while Dunlap averaged 5.7. Keesee contributed 61 assists and 52 steals, and Zellner averaged four rebounds per game.
For Keesee, establishing a positive attitude and setting an example for the younger players will be an important part of the team’s approach entering her final season.
“We want our attitudes to stay positive,” Keesee said.”Just sprinting when no one else is, building each other up and keeping each other accountable for what’s expected of us.”
Herndon echoed that emphasis on accountability, saying the group made progress in that area last season and wants to continue building on it.
“This year we can focus on that more,” Herndon said. “We can work on those things to help each other.”
The remaining players also have years of familiarity working in their favor. Keesee said many of the girls have played together since seventh grade, giving the team an established chemistry heading into another season.
Following Railey Langford’s graduation, Harrison will look for other players to step into important minutes. She said sophomore Charlee Huddleson and junior Stella Henderson are among those who could earn larger roles.
Lee-Scott will also face new challenges in Class Private AA Area 2. The Lady Warriors will compete against Glenwood School, Houston Academy and Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School.
Lee-Scott is currently scheduled to open the season Monday, Nov. 16, with a game against Opelika High School at 6 p.m. The Lady Warriors will then face LaFayette High School on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 5 p.m. and Loachapoka High School on Friday, Nov. 20, at 5 p.m.
