Homewood High’s girls basketball team is prepared for action as their season is now underway. The Lady Patriots are eager for the remainder of their season as they get closer to obtaining their playoff goals.
Head Coach Gavin King’s focus is on taking everything one step at a time, while keeping the ultimate goal of the postseason in mind. King said that they had an excellent record last season, but lost in the area tournament keeping them out of the playoffs.
“We’re really just trying to get better every day.” King said. “We want to be as good as we can be when the area tournament comes around in February, so every practice and every game is just trying to find little things to improve on to give us the best chance to advance.”
King is confident in the teams’ ability to play consistent, solid defense, something that they focused on in their rigorous off-season practice regimen consisting of over 20 summer games, team camps and workouts in the weight room.
“Right now our defense has been a strength,” King said. “I think we’re holding people through our first seven games to about 32 points a game so defensively, we’re playing really well. You know, we’re turning the ball over too much right now. By February, we’ve got to take better care of the ball.”
Kayla Warren, senior small forward for the Lady Patriots, has high hopes for her final season. She’s stepped up this year to take a leadership position and help her teammates stay focused on their ultimate goals.
“We’re really trying to match other teams’ intensities,” Warren said. “Just being really aggressive and on nights where maybe our shots aren’t falling, we make it up by the effort that we’re putting in on the court.”
Not only does the team perform well together on the court, but they have strong camaraderie that assists them outside of basketball. Their chemistry with one another allows for emotional support during the natural ups and downs of the season.
“We’re actually a really close team,” Warren said. “And I’m not just saying that. We like to joke around and have fun in the locker room and before games, but we lock in when it’s time to play. We know the right time to be fun and when to be serious.”
The team is currently 8-2 on the season with their next game on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at home against the Oak Mountain Eagles. The Lady Patriots are only beginning what is sure to be a successful year.
