Abbie Barr, 10, Girls Varsity Guard and Captain
How is the team preparing for the season?
“Preparing for the season so far, during practices we do conditioning and try to show up every day just giving it our all and trying to get better.”
What difficulties do you see this coming season?
“I would say our main difficulties that we will have this year is staying healthy this season, and as our season continues and having to face bigger and taller teams.”
What do you do before games?
“We turn on the speaker and listen to music to get ready.”
Do you expect any very difficult matches?
“I think that Irving MacArthur will be our most difficult match because of them having two players going to Baylor next year. As long as we do what we need to do during the practices and games we should be able to play with anyone.”
Shane Rogers, Head Boys Coach
What are your expectations for this season?
“Our expectations are to make the playoffs. I think those are very realistic and capable expectations. Marauders, in our eyes, don’t get outworked.”
How is the team preparing for the season?
“Our foundation is defense. We’re going to focus on guarding our yard, guarding the ball and having a five man defensive system. The vision was set March 1. We’ve been working every single day to reach that expectation, to make the playoffs.”
What difficulties do you see this coming season?
“I forsee the biggest difficulty as ‘Can we come together as a team?’ People have to be willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the team.”
What do you do after games?
“The coaching staff and I usually go eat. Besides that, I think it’s important as a coaching staff that you go home to your family.”
Do you expect any difficult matches?
“Lewisvillle is ranked number nine in the state so they’re going to be really good. Coppell will have some really good younger guys. Flower Mound, they’re fundamental. They can shoot the ball, and they’re going to force you to take tough shots.”
Garrett Walters, 12, Boys Varsity Point Guard and Senior Captain
How is the team preparing for the season?
“We’ve got a bunch of shooters and a bunch of threats on offense, so the main thing we prepare for is defensive philosophies and moving on defense because we know we can score.”
Do you have any good luck rituals?
“I’m very superstitious so I always wear the same [Kyrie Irving] sliders every game.”
What do you do before games?
“On game day, we have a big speaker in the locker room so we’re always blaring out music and jumping up and down. One thing that we did every game last year is we had Coach Adkins come in and start yelling at us to hype us up.”
What do you do after games?
“We always go get food. Our main restaurant is Buffalo Wild Wings. Usually, if we win, Ryan Vaughn will do the Blazing Wings Challenge.”
Do you expect any difficult matches?
“We’ve always wanted to play Lewisville. That’s all we think about during workouts.”
Monica Peña, Head Girls Coach
What are your expectations for this season?
“Coming into this year, the biggest thing we’ve preached to the kids is attitude and effort. Usually when you do those two things right the wins will come with it.”
How is the team preparing for the season?
“Definitely defense should be our bread and butter. There’s going to be days where you miss shots, but when it comes to defense, it’s all about effort, it’s all about hustling.”
Do you have any good luck rituals?
“I usually give my kids a quote before a game and then have them read it. It usually follows what we’re needing at the time.”
What about after games?
“On a win, we talk about it, and we’re excited about it. On a loss, we’re saying what we did wrong and what we can fix.”
Do you expect any very difficult matches?
“From what I’ve heard, Irving MacArthur is a powerhouse. We did scrimmage Flower Mound and Lewisville on Tuesday [Nov. 5] and Lewisville is going to be a battle. I think they play really good defense, and I think that’s what we’re focusing on on our side too, so it’s going to be a dogfight with them and Flower Mound as well.”
