By GALEN WELLNICKI The eighth-ranked Georgetown Lady Eagles opened official practice for the upcoming season Wednesday with a three-hour session that was both physically and menatlly challenging for the varsity and junior varsity talent pools.
“Today is tough physical test that will allow us to see what they can handle,” Lady Eagles coach Rhonda Farney said during a practice that saw the 20 players present mix six sessions of multiple cross-court sprints and 100 free throws between drills that tested and instructed the athletes on both individual and team offensive and defensive techniques.
In the drills, the varsity talent pool worked against the junior varsity.
Two key starters were missing from the drills and will be for at least one to three weeks, pending on their individual situations.
The Lady Eagles’ lone returning starter — 6-foot-1 sophomore Emery Herman — still is a key figure in the Lady Eagles’ hopes to reach and advance in the state Class 5A volleyball playoffs. The other — 6-foot junior Jaelyn Knight — is sidelined from contact work as a shoulder injury heals. Knight said Wednesday that she hoped to receive clearance to return to full duty at the end of the month.
With Herman and Knight out, the Lady Eagles worked with two basic groups. The first unit matched seniors Josie Weirich and Maddie Vickers with junior Jade Smith and sophomores McCall Hampton and Kylie Ethridge. The second unit was composed of senior Emili Harris, juniors Samari O’Brien, Ali Isbell and Gracie Spear with sophomore Mackenzie Mouton.
However, Farney and her staff of Kellye Richardson, Kristin Curtis and Kevin Spruill freely switched players between the varsity units during drills as they handed out plenty of individual critiques that most of the time showed quick positive results.
Despite the intense nature of the workout, there was plenty of encouragement traded among the players along with suggestions from the teams captains — Weirich, Vickers and Knight — and still were punctuated with a bunch of smiles.
“They are a hard-working group and we’ve got good leadership,” Farney said. “They showed their mental toughness through a lengthy workout at a rapid pace. They aren’t great shooters, but they are not reluctant shooters. They are in the process of figuring out what their roles will be with the team.
“In our district (19-5A) the top three players on each team are going to cancel one another out, but the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh players will determine who wins. We’ve got a ways to go before we’re a good basketball team because of our inexperience, but, eventually, we’ll get there.”
The three team captains were pleased with the team’s showing in the initial practice.
Weirich: “It’s one of the toughest workouts we’ve had. I Thought everybody came through well. Our ability to communicate on the floor was a big plus for us. It helps us get better. Physically, the girls are in good condition, and in great shape for the season.”
Vickers: “We worked on a lot of defense and that’s always a key for us. We were able to maintain a positive attitude during the (demanding) workout. When we were told to make corrections, we did a good job of trying to make them.”
Knight: “We worked hard and really ran the floor well. I’m really hoping to get back as soon as possible.”
The Lady Eagles will scrimmage twice before the start of the regular season with the traditional opener against Waco Midway on the Pantherettes’ court at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6. The scrimmages will be with Austin Westlake at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, in the Chaps’ varsity gym and at Pflugerville Hendrickson at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1.
The annual Meet The Eagles Chili Supper is scheduled from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29, in the GHS Cafeteria.
LADY EAGLES FIRST PRACTICE
