By THOMAS EGAN
The locker room explodes with a chant, “B-High, B-High”, then the girls take the court, prepared to battle for a spot in the winner’s circle.XXThe locker room explodes with a chant, “B-High, B-High”, then the girls take the court, prepared to battle for a spot in the winner’s circle.
Along with a 40-44 preseason loss to Lake Brantley, the girls basketball team tasted defeat in their first three games of the season. In their first regular season game against Wekiva, they lost a heart breaker, 59-62. After that, their woes continued into the next two games where they lost to both Bishop Moore and first ranked University by one point, 28-29 and 49-50 respectively.
“They’re very young,” head coach Tom Wills said. “They’re adapting very well to a new situation, a new coach. They’ve responded well but they need to mature as a team.”
Age will play a major role in the team’s progress this season. Six of the 14 players on the varsity roster include one freshman and five sophomores.
“It feels good to have made the varsity squad,” freshman Kendall Byerly said. “It feels like I’ve accomplished something. I worked all summer to get to where I am at right now.”
Byerly averages 3.0 points per game and 0.4 assists per game.
Their first home game against Oak Ridge ended in a 44-30 win, including a 17-2 run in the third quarter, as opposed to being outscored 46-57 in the third quarters of the five losses.
According to Wills, one talent that stands out is the team’s aggressive and physical play while on defense.
“They aren’t afraid to play hard and go after the ball,” Wills said.
The team averages 22.1 rebounds per game, and is led by sophomore Celeste Martin with 7.0 rebounds per game.
“I think that it’s because I try to get involved,” Martin said. “I put in a lot of effort every game.”
Martin, power forward, also averages 3.9 points per game on the offensive end, and one block per game on defense.
The squad also averages 8.4 steals per game, and is led by sophomore Bailey Florin with 3.6 SPG.
“To win games, you have to play defense,” Florin said. “I enjoy playing defense.”
Florin, shooting guard, averages 10.6 points per game and 5.0 assists per game. She, Jaci Chastain and Kyndal Skersick, are the team captains.
Even with the rough start, Wills is confident that the team can turn their rough season around.
“We can keep winning and make a run for the playoffs,” Wills said. “Our offense will come around with more experience, once we begin to click.”
Since their win against Oak Ridge, Boone is 4-0 at home and 5-5 overall, with wins against Lake Nona, Cypress Creek and Ocoee. They are ranked fifth out of nine teams in District 4.