Lady Flames plan to learn very quickly
The team, which advanced to two Class 2A state tournaments in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools playoffs, will have to overcome the losses of several key players. Most of them were to graduation, but one was a sophomore starting post sidelined by an injury.
Jordan Gray underwent successful surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament she suffered several weeks ago.
“They took a section out of her thigh to correct the problem,” head coach Jerry English said. “She seems to be feeling a little better about life. She sees her whole life gone. We want to try to keep her close to our team.”
But the season is not lost because of who’s not there, English said. Instead, the players are looking at this as an opportunity to grow and create depth, he said.
Twelve players will represent Faith led by all-state junior guard Kendra Field, the only returning starter from the back-to-back state semifinalist teams.
Other lettermen include Laura Lykken, Deanna Hoover and Katie Jung.
Newcomers Taylor Castleberry, Brooke Field, who is Kendra Field’s little sister, Breigh Gray, Victoria Roberts, Taylor Vaughn, Tori Diamond, Shiloh Reaves and Brittany Scott round out the squad.
“It probably is the youngest group I’ve ever had on a varsity team,” English said.
Both Field sisters will start, while Breigh Gray will be the sixth-man post.
“Brooke has got to grow up in front of everyone’s eyes,” the coach said.
Because of the team’s youth and the success of the last three seasons where the Lady Flames advanced to the playoffs, the coach said the team’s motto this season is “small steps.”
“That’s exactly what it’s going to be,” he said. “It’s going to test us all. In some ways, it’s exciting.”
One of the obstacles facing the Lady Flames is their limited practice time. Because they are playing in the Marble Falls First Baptist Church gym, Faith only had one practice day this week — Monday — because of the San Saba game and the Bulverde Bracken Tournament Thursday.
“We just have to get the right software,” English said. “The only way we can do that is practice.”
Faith will play in 18 predistrict games and five tournaments
He said San Saba will pose a good challenge for his squad. The Flames won last year, 77-71, but San Saba hit 18 three-pointers, he added.
“I truly believe we’ll be considerably better in December,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for a whole lot more than in the weight room. They have so little basketball background. They’re really new to the gym. We’re asking them to jump from the eighth grade to varsity it seems overnight.”
TAPPS eliminated Class 6A last semester as part of realignment. Now the teams that were in Class 3A are in Class 2A along with Faith, English said.
“Our whole district, with the exception of Cedar Park Summit, was in Class 3A,” he said. “There are five teams that dropped down from 3A to 2A that are potential state tournament teams.”
For his part, English said he has been praying for patience and guidance, and he believes the players will learn quickly.
“We play a lot of (University Interscholastic League) teams again,” he said. “It’s going to take a lot of patience, I think, from the coaching staff and older girls. We’ll line up and see how we respond. We’ll have to get better every practice.”