Lady Cagers finished Monday’s practice ready to go for the next day -the first game for the season.
Over the last three weeks the girls on the Clarkston varsity basketball team have worked through drills, plays and bonded.
‘We are really young,? said senior Kaleigh Kenny. ‘We work really hard in practice and everyone is here to win.?
The team has five returners and nine new faces for the year -including two freshman, Natalie Drumb and Delaney Kenny.
‘We have a very talented team,? said Tim Wasilk, head coach. ‘Some of our younger players may not be as experienced as our returners but they have a full understanding of what we want them to do over the course of the season.?
Wasilk has watched the girls improve through the weeks of practices and has seen a few key points stand as strengths as they go into this week against Waterford Mott and Kettering.
‘We look at our defense as a strength,? he said. ‘We look pushing the ball off the floor and working together as a team for our other strengths.?
The girls have already proven they keep getting better after playing two scrimmages during the last few weeks.
‘Saturday’s scrimmage was much improved from the week before,? said Wasilk. ‘We are just trying to put steps together everyday with our communication, defense, toughness and rebound.?
The team has not set a goal for the season because they have not yet played a game to see how they stand.
‘Things are a little rough and rocky because the girls are still figuring out what their roles are,? said Kaleigh.
Kaleigh has directed and coached the team as she continues to heal from an injury last spring. Her goal is to be back on the court in January.
‘Right now I am adding leadership,? said Kaleigh. ‘I tell them how practice should run and how the game should run.?
While she can’t be on the floor leading during the game she noted a lot of the players have the potential to stand up to the leader role.
‘Our team will be aggressive and be in every single game this year,? Kaleigh added.
They played their first game on Tuesday and host Waterford Kettering on Friday.
‘The girls are really coming together and understand what we want from them,? said Wasilk. ‘It is nice to see. We have a really good group of girls on and off the floor this year. It’s a nice chemistry on the team and you can see it.?
The action begins Friday at 5:30 p.m. when JV team plays, varsity follows.