Focus key as Maidens approach district play

Arin Hindman, Features Editor|December 20, 2013

Amanda Peters
Meeting of Maidens– Coach Leland Bearden talks strategy with Maiden players during a timeout on Dec. 17. The Maidens take an 8-4 record into play in Idalou this afternoon.

The Maidens will take a 8-4 record to Idalou tonight at 4:30 p.m.

The eighth win came in a 64-25 drubbing of Greenwood on Dec. 17.

The Maidens will play in the Lubbock Caprock Tournament on Dec. 26-28 before beginning district in Shallowater on Jan. 3.

The team will need to focus according to Coach Leland Bearden.

“We need to stay consistent,” Bearden said. “We have lost some games due to not playing consistently.”

The Maidens go into district which is just as strong as it was the previous season.

“We need to forget the past,” senior guard Morgan Jones said. “We need to go into district with the mentality that we will win.”

The Maidens have lost chances to play due to weather cancellations.

“We cannot lose focus,” Bearden said. “We need to focus in on what we do and carry that to district.”

Each player needed to focus on improving individually.

“I need to learn how to be a stronger presence on offense,” sophomore post Kelea Pool said. “I need to be able to score and be more dominant.”

Bearden is sure the Maidens will have to go into every district game ready for a fight.

“Everyone (in district) is going to be strong,” Bearden said. “There aren’t any favorites, so we need to be ready to play.”

Junior post McKaylee Weishuhn likes how the new system has increased the Maidens’ defensive threat.

“Our defense is completely different this year,” Weishuhn said. “Coach Bearden also does a great job at pushing us so it gets better and better.”

Even with more work in strength and conditioning under Coach Dustin Rotan, the Maidens also need to get the right mind set to win.

“We need to be mentally tough,” senior post Hope Hicks said. “We need to have the mentality that we can go win.”

Sophomore guard Tatum McGehee wants to improve her skill as a guard.

“I need to see the floor better,” McGehee said. “I also need to make sure the ball gets where it needs to be.”

Coach Bearden believes the Maidens have the recipe for success.

“We can succeed through teamwork,” Bearden said. “As long as we do what we know how to do well, we will succeed.”