Anticipation

Well, tomorrow is the big day! We will play our first game at the Randi Perkins tournament at Marquette High School. We've drawn Washington to play in the first round at 7pm. We'd love to see you all there!
Over the last few days of practice, our team has been focusing on overcoming adversity and how to achieve the success we are aiming for. The easiest days to be a basketball player are the days when everyone's shot is falling and the other team isn't playing well. Team sports become difficult when we're faced with obstacles such as poor shooting nights, a tough press to go up against, a confused teammate or when things simply don't go our way. It is in the difficult times that we stick together as a team; we must use our frustration against the opponents, not show it to the people who are battling in the same uniforms, with the same goals in mind.

"Success comes when dreams put on their work clothes."

Who's tacky? Not us...

If you are a fan of Webster Groves, then you know that this week is the greatest, most spirited week of the school year. This year, the spirit-o-meter is soaring as our Statesmen football team is playing in the state championship game AND with the JV football team playing in the annual Turkey Day game. Today, the entire school wore their tackiest outfits of Kirkwood red. Our girls are not party poopers of course, and were in on the action. Check in tomorrow to see the girls decked out in their BLACK and ORANGE!
During a hectic week like this, I can only be reminded of how supportive the school is of successful teams. The entire community comes out and wants to be part of the excitement. I am looking forward to the fans and school spirit that this year's girls' basketball team will bring.
For those of you wondering, we do actually get a lot accomplished in practice, even when we're dressed like this...

L-R: Abbie, Annie, Lane, Jordan, Erin, Michaela, Myia, Leah and Morgan decked out in their TACKY red outfits. Where's Miriam?

"Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much."

The bigger the better

Playing in the paint is not a task for the weak and timid. Post players for our team carry a certain demeanor when they step onto the court. We're proud to be the big girls. We jokingly flex our "muscles" and kiss our "bulging" biceps when we enter the post area. Erin, Abbie and Leah (Lane sometimes, too...although she doesn't want to claim us) are this year's BIGS. We share playfully competitive banter with the little guards in practice, but we all know that our team will not achieve the success it is working so hard for-without each other.
G.B.B.

Abbie, Leah and Lane showing off their guns.

"You will pass failure on the way to success."

Gotta look good to play good

My college basketball coach always made sure we had great gear: practice and game jerseys, top-of-the-line shoes and stylin' travel gear. That feeling that you get when you put on something you're proud to be seen in is an irreplaceable one. Tonight the girls got their new uniforms and warm up tops. Talk about FRESH!

Lane in our new shooting shirt, Leah in our home uniform and Abbie in our away uniform, showing off the "Statesmen" shorts.

Today's practice further reminded me exactly what our girls are working for...no longer do they have one or two opponents on their minds to defeat, but now they have a conference to prevail over, a district bracket to vanquish and history to make. If you believe it, ladies...trust me, I KNOW you can do it. I am continually impressed by your persistence and passion to be better each day.

Rookies

Each year, new members are added to the varsity program. This year, Myia, Leah and Miriam are the members who are affectionately known as "the rookies." Myia is a junior guard who is a quick, consistent shooter. She will bring the team a huge spark with some big buckets. Miriam is another junior guard. In 8th grade, Miriam was the freshmen girls' basketball team manager, so she knows the program and the high expectations we set. Her smart, aggressive and competitive play will make our team stronger. Long legs Leah is our only freshmen this year. Her interior defense and soft touch in the paint will be a great tool for our post play.
The "rookies" are great additions to our squad. Each player is focusing to learn the offense and our defensive principles. They are stepping up to the daily challenges of being a member of the varsity team. Great start, ladies!

Miriam, Leah and Myia...ready to give the day's quote.

"Individual commitment to a group effort, that is what makes a TEAM work!"

Annie makes 10!

"It isn't hard to be good from time to time in sports. What is tough, is being good everyday."

she loves having her picture taken...

Annie Paloucek, a senior guard, is a crucial ingredient to our team. Sadly, during a summer league game at MICDS, she came down wrong and tore her ACL. Since her surgery in August, Annie has been rehabilitating her knee and working to regain her strength. In athletics, any time a player goes down is tough on the team; when it is a senior leader and contributor, it is especially hard. For the player, it is agonizing. From the sidelines, it is obvious that Annie is eager to be back on the court. She does her best to help out in drills and always stays involved in the game.
Yesterday, Annie stepped back onto the court. She was able to do a couple of drills with her teammates and you would think it was Michael Jordan himself on the court. The morale of the teams soared. The basketball chatter lifted the entire mood of the practice. Now, don't get me wrong, we've got some distance to go before she is on the court and playing, but just being at practice everyday, stepping in for drills and picking up her teammates is already doing so much.
Keep working hard, ladies! Your efforts will pay off!

Bagels and Basketball

So, Saturday morning was our first early morning practice. There is nothing better than getting the day's work done early EARLY so the rest of the day is free. It is tough, as a coach, to motivate teenage girls to come in and give it their best at 7:15 in the morning. We've learned that, when all else fails, bribery works just fine. :) I'm only playing. It was another "goose-bump" moment for me to see how focused, how determined and how tenacious the girls were at such an early hour. Their efforts paid off and they got to enjoy bagels for breakfast after basketball. Can't beat that...

Always a quiet locker room when food is involved.

Leadership

Today captains were named. The girls on the team voted and have chosen Erin and Jordan as the leaders for the 2010-2011 season.


Erin, a senior, made it to nearly every offseason cardio session, open gym and summer/fall event. Just before practice today, she was seen with a JV post player, helping her master the moves in the paint. On and off the court, Erin will lead the program to a higher level.


Jordan, a junior, has been a varsity starter since her freshmen year. She also participated in AAU basketball and varsity golf for the Statesmen. On the basketball court, Jordan is leading by example and with her communication. Her consistent hard work and intensity level will force her teammates to step up with her, making us a more dominant program.


Way to go, Jordan and Erin.






"You must hate losing more than you love winning."

Erin, far right, is seen sporting one of her theme days at weekly cardio in the preseason. Morgs and Lane-Oh were equally enthused about the weekly ritual.  

We laugh

Despite being the first official practice of the season, today's practice was fun. It was FUN to see the girls working so hard. It was FUN to be able to learn from our mistakes. It was FUN to watch as we picked each other up after those mistakes to make our teammates better. If we keep having so much FUN, this will certainly be an unforgettable season. One FUN day at a time, ladies.
"If you want to be the champion, you must be willing to pay the greater price."

Book and Abs...having a little FUN after practice. What's with the headband, Abbie?

CONGRATS, LADIES!

After three grueling days of work, teams have been made. Congratulations to Jordan, Erin, Lane, Michaela, Abbie, Annie, Myia, Morgan, Miriam and Leah!

Day 1 and 2 of tryouts

Day 1 highlights:

• "Today was the beginning of a championship season!" Jordan
• "My legs feel like jello." Michaela

Day 2 highlights:

• to Jordan "I wish I could bottle up your hard work and drink it in the morning!" Erin

• Abbie's spandex

Welcome!

The leaves are changing colors and the air is becoming cooler-that can only mean one thing: BASKETBALL SEASON has finally arrived!

Tryouts are well underway and the girls and coaches are working very diligently to prepare for a successful season. Come along for the ride!