Powell Girls Basketball Looks to Earn their Spot in 3A

THE POWELL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM FRESH OFF THEIR STATE APPEARANCE FROM A YEAR AGO ARE ENTERING A REBUILD YEAR OF SORTS. THEY LOST EIGHT SENIORS AND CHELSEA BUHER IS TAKING OVER AS HEAD COACH OF THE LADY PANTHERS AFTER COACHING THE FRESHMAN TEAM THE LAST FEW YEARS. THIS YEAR’S SQUAD DOES BRING BACK FIVE SENIORS AND FIVE JUNIORS BUT NONE OF THEM HAVE VARSITY EXPERIENCE. COACH BUHER ON THE EARLY SEASON OUTLOOK.

“THIS WILL BE NEW FOR EVERYBODY THAT GETS VARSITY EXPERIENCE. ALL THE PLAYERS HAVE AN OPEN MIND ON EVERYTHING THAT I’M TRYING TO IMPLEMENT. THEY KNOW IT’S A COMPLETELY NEW SYSTEM AS IN THE PAST. I JUST THINK EVERYTHING THAT WE LEARN IT’S NEW TO THEM AND THEY’RE KEEPING AN OPEN MIND. KNOW THAT WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD AND WE’RE GOING TO GET BETTER AND WE’RE GOING TO HAVE PEAKS AND VALLEYS. IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW THEY REACT TO EVERYTHING.”

THIS YEAR’S GIRLS WERE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO SIT BACK AND WATCH LAST YEAR’S SENIOR GROUP SHOW THEM THE WAY. NOW IT’S THEIR TURN TO CARVE THEIR OWN PATH AND COACH BUHER SHARES WHAT HER MESSAGE IS TO THIS YEAR’S SQUAD.

“EARN THE RIGHT TO WIN. NOBODY’S GOING TO GIVE IT TO US AND WE HAVE TO EARN IT. EVERYDAY, EVERY SINGLE DAY IN PRACTICE, EVERY GAME THAT WE PLAY. WE’RE PLAYING THAT HAVE A BUNCH OF RETURNERS ON THEIR TEAM AND THEY’VE GOT IT TWO FOLD. THEY’VE GOT A NEW COACH AND THEY’VE GOT KIDS THAT DON’T HAVE THE VARSITY EXPERIENCE. BUT THEY’RE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE AND WE’RE EXCITED TO GET TO WORK.”

COACH BUHER HAS WORKED WITH THE SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS ON THIS YEARS TEAM BUT GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT HOW SHE IS BUILDING A RAPPORT WITH THIS YEAR’S SENIOR CLASS

THEY’VE COME IN WITH AN OPEN MIND. IT’S FRUSTRATING AT TIMES BECAUSE IT IS COMPLETELY NEW TO THEM, WHERE AS THE OTHER TWO GROUPS HAVE KIND OF GOT A SENSE OF WHAT I’M ABOUT. IN PREVIOUS YEARS THEY’VE STILL OBVIOUSLY BEEN AROUND THOSE SENIOR GIRLS AND THEY’RE A GOOD GROUP OF GIRLS AND THEY’RE OPEN TO A NEW SYSTEM, AND THEY’RE OPEN MINDED AND THEY’RE WELCOMING THE YOUNGER KIDS IN. I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE A GREAT YEAR FOR THE TYPE OF GIRLS WE HAVE ON OUR TEAM.”

THIS IS A VERY GUARD HEAVY TEAM, MANY PLAYERS CAN HANDLE THE ROCK. THAT SPEED ANDD ATHLETICISM WILL BE ON FULL DISPLAY THIS WEEKEND WHEN POWELL TIPS-OFF THEIR SEASON. COACH BUHER ON HER EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS WEEKEND’S PLAY.

NEVER TAKE A PLAY OFF AND NO MATTER HOW IT GOES, JUST CONTINUE TO PLAY HARD. TRY TO CHANGE THINGS ALONG THE WAY THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE AND JUST KNOW THAT THE TEAMS THAT WE’RE COMING ACROSS HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE AND/OR HAVE LOST SOME OF THEIR SENIORS. JUST KIND OF TRYING TO OVERCOME THE NEW THINGS AND STAY TOGETHER AS A TEAM WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH.”

THE POWELL HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM WILL START THEIR SEASON THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WHEN THEY TAKE PART IN A TWO-DAY TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT HOSTED BY BUFFALO AND LOVELL HIGH SCHOOL’S.