The 2024 Girls Basketball season is rapidly approaching with open gyms, tryouts, and scrimmages. The girls ended their last season strong with a record of 17-7, with a younger team. This year, there are more upperclassmen as well as a strong and large group of underclassmen. This leaves the season looking incredibly promising.
The girls have been participating in open gyms and preseason work to get in more time on the court and with the coaches. This helps prepare them for tryouts and season. The basketball team also participates in a Mini-Bulldog Camp, which is a pre-tryouts camp for any player who wishes to make the team. This goes on November 12th through the 14th. Immediately after, the girls will participate in tryouts from November 18th through the 19th. This will test the players physical strength and skills, and will set the final roster for the season.
The Bulldog’s season moves fast with their first scrimmage being six days after their first official practice, on November 26th at Colorado Mesa University. The Varsity players will compete against the Cedaredge High School Bruins and the Plateau Valley Cowboys. The Junior Varsity players will battle against the Glenwood High School Demons and the Delta Panthers.
“I think last season went good. Really good actually. But I feel like this year will be even better.” says Junior Lyla Lancaster. “We all are growing as players and we have a really big Freshman class which is exciting.” Lancaster has been playing basketball since she was in second grade and plays guard for the Varsity team.
The goals and strengths of last year will continue to be important to the team, and will be expanded upon as the season progresses. “Our number one strength is probably our defense. Last year we had good offensive players, but our defense and press have always been really strong,” Lancaster states. “Our biggest goal was to start off the game strong, and we got really good at that, but I think this year we will continue to work on remaining strong throughout the game.”
Team chemistry is another incredibly important aspect of the game outside of just skills on the court. When our players have a sense of connection they are able to perform better during games. Lancaster explains, “Our team chemistry will be really good this year. We have a lot of new players, but we also have a strong older team with lots of upperclassmen. We are more developed now because we have been playing together for longer.”
We are excited to see the girls compete and rise their way to the top this year. Make sure to pack the stands for our Bulldogs as they begin their season. Go Bulldogs!
