Moving up in the rankings
Sports Brief
Delaney Leavitt drives to the basket in a game against St. Mary’s.
January 22, 2018
Varsity girls basketball currently have a 12-3 record and are ranked 2nd in the state and 1st in league, and they are hoping to improve from a 16-17 record that they acquired last season. After winning the league championship but then losing in the second playoff round last year, The Tigers are hoping to make a statement this year.
A big change this season has been all the new faces, according to coach Steve Naylor. “We graduated six seniors last year, so there’s a lot of new opportunities for people to play and we want to get better every day if we can.” This barrage of youth for the team could bring a spark to the team’s playoff hopes.
Naylor’s expectations for the group aren’t downgraded from last year. He held the team to high expectations for a Three Rivers League title “I mean we always expect to come in trying to compete for a league title. That’s our thing, you know, we’ve won league the last two years, and we should hopefully if everything goes right be a top four team this year. And that’s one of our expectations for this year,” Naylor said. These high expectations are a staple for the team’s success and mindset when improving from season to season.
Naylor stays honest and humble when talking about his players. “We’re kind of an undersized team compared to a lot of the better teams in the state; but they go out every night and they give great effort and they’re fun to watch.” With the upcoming games, the Tigers may be able to steal victories with their grit, determination, and putting it all out on the court.
This week the team plays at home at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. The Tigers are hoping to compete this year for a Three Rivers League title and the playoffs beyond and could use some fan support. If the football team’s run is any inspiration, this team must embrace their roles and play as a team to keep this program as a one with a winning culture.