By McKenna Click
The Lady Highlanders basketball team is half way through their season and because of their statistics, can already be considered a winning team. The girl have won six of their ten games so far this season. Which means senior Tori Kingsley’s goal of “[winning] sectionals and conference and to have a winning season” is well on its way.
“We’ve got a lot of returning kids who’ve played varsity and a lot of hard working kids,” said counselor and head girl’s basketball coach Kirk Hamsley. He has hopes of a winning season. Winning does not just happen, teams need to be strong, and the Lady Highlanders have quite a few strengths.
Junior Taylor Andrew recognizes their strengths including the teamwork among the girls. “We’re a pretty good shooting and scoring team too,” said Kingsley.
Although the team is strong, Andrew realizes the girls still have improvements to make. “[We need to] talk and work on leadership.”
Leadership may be something the girls need to work on but Kingsley and Hamsley realize there are other things the girls need to work on also.
Kingsley wants the team to work on their defense, but Hamsley said, “[the girls] need to buy into being a team and playing together.”
The girls said they have been trying to grow together as a team. “We do team bonding like three times a week,” said Kingsley. Andrew and Kingsley rattled off team bonding activities including making balloon animals, a scavenger hunt, and team dinners.
“[At team dinners] we all indulge in a lot of food and talk about stuff that’s really funny and that makes us come closer,” said Kingsley. Team dinners help the team grow closer. “We are a lot closer than past teams. We’re all really good friends and we hang out outside of school,” said Andrew.
Not only have the girls been trying to grow together as a team, Hamsley talked about how the girls have been working hard to have a good season.
“[We worked for] six weeks conditioning. We have practice for two hours and fifteen minutes six days a week,” said Hamsley.
They successfully beat Scottsburg, who were sixth in the state last year, and Seymour, who are a part of their conference. Hamsley cited both of those wins as big wins for the team.
Hamsley looks forward to playing Jeff, New Albany, and Bedford, FC’s main rivals.
The next time the girls can be seen in action is Dec. 27 at 2:30 pm or 28th at 11:00 am at the Lady Highlander Classic held at FC.
For those looking to see a rival game the girls play New Albany at New Albany, January 5th at 6:00 pm for JV or 7:30 pm for varsity. There is also a game at FC January 12 against Bedford 1:00 pm for JV or 2:30 for varsity.