By Kyle Coppola
Leesburg High Girls Basketball Ranked #5 Team In FHSAA Class 5A
LEESBURG, FL – The Leesburg High School girls’ basketball team is playing one of the school’s most difficult schedules in recent memory. Despite that, the Lady Jackets have a balanced record of 6-6 and an impressive #5 ranking in FHSAA Class 5A. Under the leadership of second-year head coach Sean Campbell, the Lady Yellow Jackets have proven themselves against some of the toughest competition in the state, boasting the second-hardest strength of schedule in their class.
(Head coach Sean Campbell talks to his team. The Lady Jackets are having a big year. This is coach Campbell’s second full-time season coaching the Lady Jackets.)
Coach Campbell, who pulls double duty as the head coach for both the boys’ and girls’ varsity teams, has navigated the challenges of leading two programs with remarkable success. His ability to inspire and motivate both teams has been a cornerstone of Leesburg’s performance this season.
The Yellow Jackets’ success is driven by standout performances from freshman Alysya Smith and senior Ariyana Hester. Smith, in her debut season, has been nothing short of sensational, averaging 15 points per game and establishing herself as one of the top young players in the region. Hester, the senior leader, has been equally impactful, averaging 15.8 points per game and providing the experience and poise the team needs in critical moments.
(Ariyana Hester is averaging a team high 15.8 points per game.)
Despite facing adversity with the loss of senior Saige McCloud due to injury early in the season, Leesburg has continued to compete at a high level. McCloud is now back in the lineup and she also averages around 14 points per game and 10 rebounds per game. Leesburg High is absolutely a favorite right now to potentially punch their ticket to Lakeland although there is a long way to go.
(Morgan Campbell has helped the Lady Jackets this season. She has stepped up when the team has needed her.)
“The strength of this team is their heart and determination,” said Coach Campbell. “We’ve faced one of the toughest schedules in the state, but these girls come out and fight every single night. It’s a testament to their character and commitment to the program.” Assistant coach D’mani Nettles has reiterated that saying “We are coming together at the right time. The team chemistry is there and we are competing at a high level. The way we booked the schedule, we wanted to play tough teams this year to get us ready for districts and the state playoffs.” says coach Nettles.
(This is perhaps the best Leesburg High girls basketball team in recent years. This team is very much thinking about getting to the State Semifinals in Lakeland this year.)
As the season has progressed, the Lady Yellow Jackets are aiming to build on their strong foundation and continue making strides in one of the most competitive divisions in Florida high school basketball. They also have districts coming up in a few weeks and intend on bringing home another district championship to Leesburg. But for the Lady Jackets they are hoping their season ends in Lakeland this year. We are unsure if Saige McCloud will make it back this season
The future is bright for this resilient team, and with players like Smith and Hester leading the charge, the Yellow Jackets are ready to prove they belong among the elite in Class 5A.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
