by Layney Derricott
A new season comes with new opportunities, challenges and goals.
The girls’ basketball team is preparing for the court. Coming off of a 14-11 season last year, they’re ready to improve. Preseason practices have been a great chance to get ahead on this season’s improvement. Junior shooting guard Lili Mangrum shared that the new season has brought adjustments for the Red Devils.
“We’ve been learning how to play with the lower classmen,” said Mangrum, “as well as adjusting to the new people coming in, really working on becoming a team.”
Girls’ basketball is mainly junior led, and these juniors have played together since they were children, forming a lifelong connection.
In addition to Mangrum,the juniors include point guard Makenna Taylor and guard Jazlynn Bryant, among others. Coach A.J. Moye shared that the team’s strong bond will play an important role in their succession.
“Our team is filled with high level characters, mainly led by juniors that are driven and know what it takes. That also strongly care for each other’s well beings and improvements,” Moye stated.
Returning players bring experience and a sense of recognition in each other, while new faces will have to adjust with the pace of high school basketball.
Freshman Trinity Broadway said her biggest challenge during the preseason preparation includes “adjusting to the different levels of basketball,” and “becoming quicker and more focused.”
As the team continues to adjust for the season, they are keeping an eye on competition as well. Junior forward Lorelei Darling identified the two toughest teams.
“The toughest team we will face is Pike, along with Christian Academy. The game will be intense, along with a learning curve we will have to face,” said Darling.
With challenging opponents ahead, experience and determination will be key for the team. Taylor has faced many challenges so far into her basketball journey, saying the toughest being ,”honestly, trying to win a sectional has been tough in the past years, especially since our conference can be competitive. I, however, have a really good feeling about this year.”
That confidence Taylor holds carries into practice, where Bryant said team highly focuses on staying positive, motivating one another, and, “making sure not to fall short, not letting teammates fall short either. Along with keeping practice positive.”
Through encouragement, determination, and teamwork, the team hopes to turn their competitive mindset into success this season. Individual players have their opportunities to make an impact.
Taylor is the player everyone should be looking out for, according to Mangrum, saying she will “wow” the crowd this season with her skills and determination.
While individual talent is important, it only makes up one part of a team. Mangrum added that their combination of strengths all are what truly makes up the team.
“Our team is strong both defensively and offensively mainly due to our abilities to all play at all levels, equally improving and correcting together,” she said.
In this team no one is left behind, as they advance and get through struggles together. Like a family, heading into the season they’re excitedly preparing.
Bryant shared that her excitement resides in really harvesting in the season by “playing with all my teammates, just being all together again. Winning games and really shooting for a sectional win.”
