By Katie Duell & Cody Easton | Collaborative Reporters
Steady improvement is showing in the girls basketball program under Head Coach Bruce Bryant’s leadership.
That is exactly what he hopes for.
“We went from one win the previous year to eight wins last year,” Bryant said.
Bryant said he is trying to really stress the basic fundamentals and focus on ball handling. At practices the girls spend their time going through ball control drills, drill based conditioning and shell drills used to teach the fundamentals of defense. He also plans to push his players into increasing the speed of the game and have them press opposing teams more than in previous years. Senior Brea Mosieur is ready to commit and give what is required for the coming season.
“We have been preparing to have a more strenuous season,” Mosieur said.
In addition to Mosieur, Bryant’s senior players include Peyton Babb, Kristen Mayer, Jasmine Meline and Chelsea Pettett. Meline, who returned to basketball for the first time since she played as a freshman, believes the team has great potential.
“We just need to be a team,” Meline said. “The better we work together, the better we will play.”
Prior to taking over the varsity girls team last season, Bryant had coached MHS basketball for 10 years in various capacities in both the boys and girls programs. In his first season, he saw dramatic improvement, but with the graduation of his top scorer, Kara Young, he said the girls are going to have to step it up and work together.
“The scoring will have to be a lot more spread out this year in order to improve on the wins,” Bryant said.
Babb and Mosieur said they have a lot of respect for what Bryant has done. In addition to helping his players improve their basic skills, he creates a fun, hardworking atmosphere. The girls want to add to this positive environment and create a legacy during their senior year that makes the underclassmen want to be as committed to the program as they are.
“We would like to see the program to continue to improve, for the progress to increase even when we are gone,” Babb said.
The improvement continues to show in the form of wins coming in the pre-season, with a victory over North Valley in their season opener. The Pirates beat Siuslaw at Siuslaw last Monday, 44-17, and brought home another win last Wednesday night against Pleasant Hill, 55-52.
The Pirates have their first home game tomorrow against Marist at 7pm. They will also be at home for the annual Les Schwab Holiday Tournament Dec. 27-29.
