By ANTHONY STEVENS
BRISTOL, Va. (July 14, 2026) – The Tigers have one of the state’s best girls’ basketball programs. Coach Misty Davis Miller has amassed 300 career wins in 15 years at the helm, including three state championships.
One of the reasons for the phenomenal success of the defending Hogoheegee District regular season, tournament, and Region 1D titles is their offseason work.
On Tuesday at the Bearcat Den, Honaker flexed Class 1 muscle. The Tigers picked up victories over David Crockett, a TSSAA 4A school, and over VHSL Class 2 host Virginia High. It capped a busy summer for the Tigers.
“I’m pleased. We’ve had some good games this summer,” declared Miller. “Even some of the losses we took at Emory & Henry University came against good teams from Knoxville. The girls have faced strong competition this summer, and they’re making strides in the right direction. Year to year, you have to step up and fill the gaps left by players you’ve lost, and that’s what we’re working to do. I see a lot of potential in this team.”
Honaker certainly hasn’t avoided tough competition. Many think that to be the best, you have to compete against the best.
“We’re competitive and we want to win every game,” Miller stated. “Sometimes you can play a good team, come out with a loss, but be better for it. That’s what we’ve seen this summer. We’ve played tough competition, and the girls have stepped up and met the challenge. I’m proud of the summer season we’ve had.”
The Tigers bring back three key starters from their 22-win team. Candence Rose will direct the offense at point guard, while shooting guard Dani Whaley and reigning Lebanon News Player of the Year small forward JuJu Farmer also return. All three are juniors, providing Honaker with a solid core for the upcoming two seasons.
“Those three have put in the time, and it shows on the floor,” noted Miller. “They’ve played well all summer. I’m expecting big things from those three this coming season. I think they will do a good job carrying a leadership role for me this season.”
Rose handles the ball well and is long, which allows her to change the geometry of the court defensively. Rose has great instincts and recovery ability on that end. With her athleticism, she can get to the rim, which is a positive at any level of basketball. Rose has unlimited potential.
“It opens things up when I draw defenders inside,” Rose noted. “I have options to pass it back out for a teammate to shoot a 3 or to drive. We know we have to work on a few things, but I think this team will get there in time for the basketball season.
“I’m still shy about taking shots on offense. I need to be more aggressive. My teammates encourage me constantly and are always supportive.”
Whaley played a key role on the patented pressure defense employed by the Tigers against the Pioneers and Bearcats. She is another ‘gym rat’ that works continuously on her craft.
“We work a lot on defense, but we also try to take a lot of shots,” remarked Whaley. “We want to work together as a team because there are a lot of new girls coming up to varsity. We’re trying to work together and figure out how each other plays.
“I feel really good about the upcoming season. I’m so happy to get back in the gym.”
Farmer is versatile and can do everything on the court. She has a combination of size and shooting ability and is a factor on the defensive end. Farmer is fluid on the floor and has grown accustomed to being the focus of opposing defenses.
“Even though they are early, these camps show us what we need to improve on,” commented Farmer. “We’re still learning about each other and how to read each other. Defense is our thing, so we always focus on it.”
The Tigers graduated only two, Carey Keene and Cheyenne Musick.
Farmer said, “Every season, we graduate players, and that’s simply part of the process. We must learn and grow from it. Even with the loss of two talented players, we believe we can still succeed and go far this season.”
Also returning with varsity experience are Sophie Campbell (jr.), who saw some starts last year,
Paislee Lowe (so.), and Ily Bandy (so.). Alivia Keene (sr.) and Ava Keene (so.) also return but were unable to attend the games against Crockett and VHS.
Working with the varsity this summer are sophomores Taylor Honaker and Sawyer Bailey, along with freshmen Lyla Bostic, Christine Gennette, and Ainsley Rose.
“Those girls have come out and worked hard,” Miller stated. “Whenever you step up to a new level, it’s a different pace and a different level of competition, and there’s an adjustment phase. I feel there’s a lot of good talent there.”
Before you know it, practice will start in earnest in November, and of course games begin in December. The Tigers want to hit the court running then.
“We just have to keep working hard,” said Coach Miller. “You have to put in a lot of time during the off-season, and that’s what I told them today. Between now and November, we don’t want to let up. We want to make a big push between August and November and fix the problems we’ve seen that we need to work on. I’m excited to have this team. The key for us is always defense. We have speed, length, and athleticism. We want to build on the defense and hustle we’ve always had.”
