Last night, the Lady Irish started off strong against the Ada Cougars in a close and hard fought home game securing a 44-40 win, and bringing to light the much needed work the team will have to put in.
“We haven’t been running our plays very well, so spending more time in practice being able to run our sets and get easy buckets would help us a long way,” Head Coach Jade Carter said prior to the game.
In addition, Carter stressed the importance of strong bonds between both the coaches and players and between the players themselves in order to have a cohesive team. Senior Coffey Collier knows this necessity.
“I feel closer and closer with my team everyday,” Collier said. “When we see each other in the halls, it feels like we are always in some inside-joke and are happy to see each other. A lot of that was made possible by the coaches.”
With this, Carter believes that basketball is more than just a sport, it is an opportunity to teach the girls important values.
“[It’s] the relationship that the coaches and the girls have together, and then also the ability to take our message, [to] take it and grow from it,” Carter said.
As an underclassmen dominated team, Collier stressed the importance of senior leadership, but also the opportunity for younger players to step up. Collier believes with strong relationships throughout the team, each player can rely on the other for leadership.
“We have five seniors this year, and each of us brings something to the table, but we also have some really talented underclassmen and two important juniors, so this year everyone has the opportunity to step up as a leader,” Collier said.
With a 7-7 record, Carter said practice is a key component in developing necessary skills cultivating relationships between the players. Carter added that the team has been focusing on building this aspect in order to improve the effectiveness of its defense, plays and speed.
As the team changes through the years when gaining or losing players, coaches continue to maintain the goal of making it the best it can possibly be.
“The girls are a lot closer this year,” Carter said. “I think the community within the team is better and stronger. Also, the defense on the court is a lot more aggressive than it was last year, so that’s something we like to see.”
With the girls on the rise of a new season, they will play in the Deer Creek tournament Jan. 23-25, continuing to develop their skills and deepen team relationships throughout the season.
For more information about the Lady Irish click here.
For the full girls basketball schedule click here.
