The Maiden varsity basketball team, which made it to region quarterfinals last year, is taking its 5-2 record to the Denver City tournament this weekend.

“I think we’ll do very well in the Denver City tournament this weekend,” guard senior Madison Froman said. “We have a very good chance of winning.”

The Maidens have been preparing for the tournament by improving skills.

“Our weaknesses are ball handling and shooting,” guard junior Kaleen Sarli said. “We’ve been doing drills and more shooting to get better.”

The team has been practicing on being consistent.

“We’ve played a few games where we haven’t done our best and a few where we’ve played really well,” Coach Dickie Faught said. “If we stay consistent we’ll be alright.”

Looking at the tournament competition was a way for the Maidens to prepare for the games.

“Dimmit will be our toughest opponent,” Faught said. “They won this tournament last year, and they’re one of the better teams.”

The Maidens have had to adjust to the loss of seniors and the addition of new players.

“We lost three seniors this year,” Froman said. “This year we have five seniors, and all of us have played on varsity with each other for a year.”

The Maidens are still finding strengths in their playing.

“Our strength is our defense in press,” Faught said. “It’s better in the game, and it is a strength in the long run.”

The Maidens want to communicate on and off the court.

“A change in the team this year is that we play more as a team,” Sarli said. “It’s more natural for us to work together.”

The team has also gained some height with additions like freshman post McKaylee Weishuhn.

“Some of our strengths are that we have more height and more than one person can handle the ball,” guard senior Kameran Beaty said. “Also, that we have played with some of these players last year.”

The Maidens will continue follow the Denver City Tournament with action in Idalou on Dec. 6.