Crushing the Court

7th Grade Lady Panthers Crush the Court.

They are good.

Really good.

In fact they are so good they have had scores like 39-0, and 62-2.  The 7th grade girls basketball team has been annihilating just about everyone  they have played thus far.  

Many of these girls have been playing together for several years already.  This maybe a strong asset to the foundation of the team, but none the less Coach Buff Page has also enlisted his own important fundamentals.

“We know our plays,” player Rylie Kubiak said of the team’s strengths.

Marley Hartshorn agrees, and says the team gets along well both on and off the court.

“We are all really good friends,” she said.

The girls feel this helps make being on the team a fun experience.

George Page, Coach of the 7th grade girls basketball team, said, “The season is going excellent so far. We have some highly motivated girls. They have great attitudes and work very hard. They take it very seriously.  One of the things I’m most proud of is the fact that they have learned six or seven defences, probably fifteen different offenses. They have learned a lot of different things such as, running against the zone, running against man to man, they can trap half and full court.”

He feels he is most pleased “they have learned so much in such a short time. I only have them for two weeks and we are off to a game, so they are really coachable.”

Both Hartshorn and Kubiak said “We could work more on defense.”

Playing together has been a good part of the girls’ year. For many working together has been the best part.

“That has been my favorite part of the season.” Hartshorn said of spending time with her team mates out on the court.

The team is dominating on the court. Winning every game so far.

“It's always fun to be really good and have people say ‘ wow this team is really good’ but I think the camaraderie and the fact we can joke a little bit, but take it seriously and do our best is what is important. We are trying to do the best we can do but also try and do it in a way where we are not humiliating anyone, and trying to have good sportsmanship.” said Page of the team’s dynamics.

As the girls look to the future of the team, Kubiak said

“I think we will get better competition and then it will really go down.”

“We are facing off against Marshall this week. They are in first place, we are in first place. Which will happen this Wednesday. I think this group could win a state title and I don’t mean to be clique. I think this group, if they work hard can win a state title or make a run at it.  These girls are naturally good players, so if they stay together and keep working at it there is no question they could make a run for a state title when they are juniors and seniors. “  said Coach Page of the team’s Wednesday head to head against Marshall and of the team's future as high school players.