Tecumseh Girls’ Basketball Coach
The past week has been an intense emotional week for the Lady Arrows Girls Basketball team. Beginning last Saturday with a down to the wire game with Kenton Ridge that was settled with free throws, to an ugly win in the middle against Xenia on Monday, to a game against last year CBC league champs Tippecanoe. One thing held constant was the Arrows never wavered and continued to win despite playing perfectly in the games.
These games were crucial to win for the Arrows if they wanted to be alone in first in the hunt for the title. Tecumseh and Tippecanoe were both undefeated in league going into that game, and the Arrows walked away with a shocking 18 point win to many. This team proved they are special by battling just three days apart the two biggest rivalries that have left the Arrows on the losing side for a lot of the girls’ basketball history.
Is it the scoring power that makes them special? Maybe! It definitely doesn’t hurt to have multiple kids on the roster that can score double digits. But in my opinion what makes this group special, is the chemistry! The players, parents, and the fans. It has taken years to build not only the skill level of these girls but also the relationship bonds that these girls have with one another is rare. They have known one another for years and are bonded on and off the court. They were friends long before they became teammates.
From the top to the bottom these girls are a team of one! One mission every night that unites them is the mission to win. They only are disappointed in themselves if they feel they did not pull their own weight for the team that night. But they are quick to realize that their teammates picked them up that night. As I sit and watch film after games I always notice the kids on the bench that stand up to cheer for the shot that was just hit. Or the kid on the court not even in the play that is fist pumping and cheering loudly for their teammate at the other end of the court that scored. Those things are the little things that make a great team, when they become selfless for one another.
This team is sitting at (7-0) for the season and (3-0) for the Kenton Trail Division with big wins at home over Kenton Ridge and Tippecanoe. They are focused on the long road ahead and are overlooking no one on their schedule. The seniors are on a mission to hang this season’s numerals on the banner and the underclassman are wanting the same thing. They know the mixture of weapons this year is unique and that they may not have the same opportunity next year or the year after. I predicted 4 years ago this group would be special, when the stars could align with match up nightmares for every opponent. I knew how many of these kids were devoting their lives to becoming the best basketball player that God given them the ability to become. So far they are proving me right! They are special. And as long as we stay healthy and focused I believe the best is yet to come with the Tecumseh Girls Basketball team of 2015-2016.