The girls basketball team will play its home opener against Lebanon Trail on Nov. 7 in the arena at 6:30 p.m.
In the 2022 season, the team finished first in the district with an overall record of 30-6, and 13-1 in district. Head coach Lisa Branch said the team hopes to secure another spot in the playoffs by taking it one game at a time.
“Last season was a success,” Branch said. “We accomplish[ed] our team goals. [We won] district, [advanced] further in the playoffs and we played together as a team on and off the court.”
The team practices every Monday and Thursday at 6:15 a.m. and every Tuesday and Friday during third period. In addition, they lift weights and position work every Wednesday morning. Guard and team co-captain Paris Bradley said she hopes the team’s time in the gym will help with an early-season issue.
“We’re struggling to finish games,” Bradley said. “Trying to get over that little bump and finish the whole game [is important, so] [Branch] got us jump ropes to make sure our legs are [warmed up.] [That’ll help us] push through our finish if we start with conditioning.”
This season, six out of 12 players are seniors.
“The leadership falls on [the seniors,] giving them all ownership, more responsibility and letting their voices be heard,” Branch said. “[We’re] letting their work ethic speak for itself and we’re going to depend heavily on those six seniors.”
Last season, the team was one win away from going undefeated in the district, and forward and team co-captain Jordan Thomas said they hope to accomplish more than they did last year.
“My role is to be a big presence on the court,” Thomas said. “I feel like we learned a lot last season. We can [accomplish] my goal to be undefeated this season, we just [need to be] prepared for the main challenges we have [because] there’s a lot of good teams.”
Branch said this game is just like any other game and they want to approach it in the same way they would later in the season. She said their goal is to be prepared and finish the game.
“My hope is that we get better,” Branch said. “We get better at every game, every practice and every day. We have to stay together [and] play together.”
