A varsity girls basketball squad that includes four freshman and a sophomore will be on the floor for Darrington this season. But if that is of concern to anybody its certainly not to the senior leaders of the team.
I love the younger players, said forward Caitlin Pendergrass. Weve all grown up together. I really hope they can look up to us seniors.
Pendergrass believes the freshman class is talented enough to help the team win, as well as fit in socially with the group.
All the freshman have big potential, said Pendergrass. They come to me with questions. Right now we dont have anybody who will carry us so well all have to do it as a team.
Coach Ben Bryson preaches defense and togetherness, his system depends on communication and trust between the players.
Coach is asking more from the seniors this year, said point guard Kimi Woodward. We have to push the young girls and make them work hard. But we all get along, even with the age gap. Weve all lived here for so long.
Woodward has good reason to be optimistic. Shes making her own healthy return after being nagged by injuries the past two seasons. This will be her chance to lead the team not only as a senior, but as the point guard and orchestrator of the offense.
I feel a bit more pressure to step up, said Woodward. Even though we have a young group we have a lot of heart. We hustle and work hard. I think we can do well this year.
One of the hardest workers on the team, Jordan Corley, will also need to fill a leadership role. The senior Corley plays a bit of everything on the court. Shell have to sacrifice and fill in wherever needed depending on foul trouble and game situations. Corley believes the potential for good things exists.
We have a lot of room for growth, said Corley. Im excited about it. It will different but it should be good. Coach puts us in a position to show what we can do.
For the seniors, it will be a chance to prove not only their on-court ability but also their overall leadership skills. Should Darrington have a big season it will almost certainly because the senior leaders make sure the chemistry works well with the younger players.