DONNELLSON - Taylor Hickey couldn’t help but smile a couple of weeks ago when she told her Central Lee girls basketball team to do a drill, and the Hawks went right into it without any questions.
“The girls know me, know my expectations,” the Hawks’ coach said. “In the last few years, we’ve had to teach them drills. This time, they just went off and started doing what I wanted. I was smiling ear to ear. I was like, ‘Holy crap, you girls remember.’ It means they’ve bought in, and it makes me excited for this year.”
Central Lee went 6-16 last season, 6-9 in the SEI Superconference South Division, but Hickey feels like that record is going to improve just because of the familiarity her players have for her system.
“I told the girls we have more experience this year than we have had the last two seasons put together,” Hickey said. “We’ve grown, we’ve developed. We didn’t graduate anyone last year, and we’ve got everyone back. So I’m really looking forward to the girls coming in with more comfort and confidence, because they’ve had those varsity minutes, having been thrown in there as freshmen and sophomores.
“They say by your fifth year as a coach, you’ve made your mark, so to speak. The girls know what to expect. This year, we’re really talking about roles, and how you can contribute to the team. I’m really focused on our players’ strengths.”
Only 12 players came out for the team this season, which means there won’t be any junior varsity games to develop the younger players. But Hickey has a core of older players who have logged a lot of varsity minutes.
Sophomore guard Lizzy Mason was the team’s leading scorer last season at 13.1 points per game, starting 21 games.
“She played a lot as a freshman,” Hickey said. “We’re looking forward to seeing her mature — she’s really learned a lot about being a point guard, and being able to put her teammates in successful positions.”
Junior Kenna Sandoval was the team’s leading rebounder last season, averaging 8.9 per game. She also averaged 9.2 points as the second leading scorer.
“Sophomore year, coaches were aware of her more, and she got locked down a little bit,” Hickey said. “But she’s learned from that. She’s been really steamrolling in practice. She’s locked in.”
Junior Taylor Jones was second on the team in rebounding and third in scoring last season.
“She’s grown a lot in the last year,” Hickey said. “She’s super athletic. She’s become more mature, slowed down her mind a little bit.”
Junior Jayden Mueller started every game last season. Senior Sydnie Larson played in every game, making 20 starts. Senior Ellie Lake played in 21 games, and junior Riley Gregory played in 15.
“So with everyone back, we’re in a better position to compete this year,” Hickey said.
The Hawks open the season Tuesday night at Holy Trinity. They have usually started with a game before Thanksgiving break, but the schedule worked out differently for them this season.
“It’s a little weird not having a game before Thanksgiving, I can tell you that,” Hickey said. “It’s a little different. We’ve just gotten in some more practices. But we know each other pretty well, and that’s going to make a difference.”
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