Women’s basketball shoots for Cap 8 title

Last year, the women’s varsity basketball team rounded out their 2015-16 season with a loss in the third round of the state playoffs. With a new roster of players, the team is hoping to build off of last year’s success and finish towards the top of the Cap 8. The teaming is counting on every player to contribute, so that the team can achieve its goals.

This year’s team is hoping to build off of experience from last year and turn that into more success this year. Coach Art Wollett is hoping to turn an already experienced team into conference champions.

“We finished 4th in the CAP8 with a 7-7 record, and we started 3 freshmen last year so hopefully that year of experience will prove to be helpful,” said Wollett. “We always have a goal to win the CAP 8 conference.”

According to the team, one of the problems facing the team this year is a lack of height. However, junior Mary Butler is returning to the team after an ACL injury, and hopes to add some much needed stature.

“We don’t have of height this year, so I’m definitely considered one of the taller girls.I hope to grab a lot of rebounds and help my team in the paint,” Butler said. “However, I have to wear a brace when I’m playing and it slows me down and restricts my movement.”

Since the team lacks a lot of size, they will need to make up for it with players that can score from the outside. Jada Peebles is a sophomore entering her second year on the varsity team. She is putting it on herself to carry the team to success this year.

“I need to become more of a leader this year and get the team further than last year,” Peebles said. “I hope to get closer to scoring 1,000 points this year.”

Although the team does not have much height, they are not giving up on trying to compete close to the hoop. Junior Camryn Jones believes that the team has the correct dynamic to overcome its height deficiency.

“This year it’s going to be harder for us down low because we lack in height, but our effort is definitely there,” said Jones. “We will makeup for our height by boxing out and rebounding.”

One of the biggest strengths that this team possesses is a strong sense of chemistry. The team is hoping that this connection can help make up for some of the team’s areas of struggle.

“I’m hoping that working as a team we will have a pretty good season because we are all pretty close. Hopefully, that will help on and off the court,” Butler said. “However, with some new girls coming in we are trying to bond with them off the court so that we can work together on the court.”

Jada Peebles also believes that team chemistry can help the team this year, but she believes it can still be improved.

“We work well together, but we still need to work on it a little bit. We really want to go further this year.”

Building off of Peebles’ goals, Jones wants the team to make a deep run into the state playoffs this year. She thinks that this team is capable of playing at a level a step above last year.

“We hope to make it past the second round of the playoffs this year because that’s where we fell short last year.” said Jones.