Lady Tigers ready to sink claws into season

The Encampment Lady Tigers are beginning their season with a total of nine girls, but with only four having played for the red and black previously.

"Five of the nine girls did not play for Encampment last year," said Kevin Pantle, head coach for the Lady Tigers. "Two foreign exchange students, one transfer from Saratoga and one did not play last year because of an injury."

According to Pantle, who is a first year head coach for the Lady Tigers, the girls aren't letting a lack of experience in Tiger Nation stop them from giving their best effort.

"The girls are working very hard this year and I am very proud of them," said Pantle.

Though it is his first year as head coach, Pantle brings a wealth of experience to the position having worked with two different coaches who led the Lady Tigers to state championships.

"I have been blessed to coach alongside two state championship winning coaches, Dan Kraft and Clint Bromley," said Pantle.

Under Kraft, the Lady Tigers were back-to-back state champions in 2004 and 2005 and were state runner-ups in 2006. In 2017, Encampment returned as state champions under Bromley who coached the Lady Tigers from 2017 to 2023.

"There will be some similarities from last year to this year, but I hope to put a few new touches to our girls basketball program," said Pantle. "I hope we are able to push the ball up quickly and run the floor."

Along with a new head coach, the Lady Tigers also have a new assistant coach and one who should be familiar to Tiger Nation fans. This year, Micaiah Pantle joins her father on the very same hardwood she played on from 2014 to 2018.

"I am excited to coach alongside my daughter this year," said Pantle. "Micaiah has the desire and the knowledge to become a great coach. I just hope that I can help her become the best coach that she can be."

For most teams, the goal each season is to punch their ticket to the regional and state tournaments. Encampment is much the same, said Pantle.

"My number one hope is that the girls get better at basketball and have a lot of fun while doing so," said Pantle. "We always have our goal of making it to regionals and state, that never changes."