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Mar. 26—TRINITY — Midway through the 2024-25 season, West Morgan head girls basketball coach Bradley Willis had a decision to make.
The Rebels had just lost star Haniyah Standridge for the season and had other starters dealing with injuries as well. With the circumstances they faced, Willis thought it was time to focus on the next season.
"We had moved some middle school girls up and the whole basis of that decision was: They're going to be really good, so let's get them ready now," Willis said.
The decision worked out as this season West Morgan finished 23-8 and advanced to the Northwest Regional Tournament for the first time since 2018. Because of this, Willis was chosen as The Decatur Daily's Class 1A-4A Girls Coach of the Year.
"We try not to talk about wins and losses in the program because we don't want circumstances to dictate our attitude, but we knew we had a chance to be really good," Willis said. "I feel like the main thing about coaching is maximizing your potential and this year every player improved drastically.
"It wasn't until we beat Mars Hill in the Christmas tournament that I think the team really understood how good they were, though. After that they believed they could beat anybody."
It was the older players who led the way for the Rebels this year, as Standridge returned from injury to lead the team in scoring with 12 points per game, while senior Chasity Rikard and junior Raygen Muse both averaged a double-double. However, those middle schoolers that became freshmen this season still made their mark. None bigger than in the biggest game of the year, a subregional matchup on the road at Dora.
"The biggest shot of the year came from a freshman Presslee Coburn when she made a game-winning 3 to send us to regionals," Willis said. "We had talked about making it to regionals for a long time and to see them fulfill that goal and see their excitement, it was a very fulfilling moment as a coach."
With just one senior in Rikard, Willis said he hopes reaching the regional tournament this year is just a small step in what the Rebels have in store going forward.
"Winning breeds winning, and that's something we pride ourselves on here at West Morgan with success in a lot of different sports," Willis said. "Our girls are very driven, and they want to make the regional tournament an every-year thing and hopefully go even further."
— [email protected] or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2
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The Rebels had just lost star Haniyah Standridge for the season and had other starters dealing with injuries as well. With the circumstances they faced, Willis thought it was time to focus on the next season.
"We had moved some middle school girls up and the whole basis of that decision was: They're going to be really good, so let's get them ready now," Willis said.
The decision worked out as this season West Morgan finished 23-8 and advanced to the Northwest Regional Tournament for the first time since 2018. Because of this, Willis was chosen as The Decatur Daily's Class 1A-4A Girls Coach of the Year.
"We try not to talk about wins and losses in the program because we don't want circumstances to dictate our attitude, but we knew we had a chance to be really good," Willis said. "I feel like the main thing about coaching is maximizing your potential and this year every player improved drastically.
"It wasn't until we beat Mars Hill in the Christmas tournament that I think the team really understood how good they were, though. After that they believed they could beat anybody."
It was the older players who led the way for the Rebels this year, as Standridge returned from injury to lead the team in scoring with 12 points per game, while senior Chasity Rikard and junior Raygen Muse both averaged a double-double. However, those middle schoolers that became freshmen this season still made their mark. None bigger than in the biggest game of the year, a subregional matchup on the road at Dora.
"The biggest shot of the year came from a freshman Presslee Coburn when she made a game-winning 3 to send us to regionals," Willis said. "We had talked about making it to regionals for a long time and to see them fulfill that goal and see their excitement, it was a very fulfilling moment as a coach."
With just one senior in Rikard, Willis said he hopes reaching the regional tournament this year is just a small step in what the Rebels have in store going forward.
"Winning breeds winning, and that's something we pride ourselves on here at West Morgan with success in a lot of different sports," Willis said. "Our girls are very driven, and they want to make the regional tournament an every-year thing and hopefully go even further."
— [email protected] or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2
Continue reading...
