Mathis High School Girls Basketball Season Preview

The Mathis High School girls' basketball team is gearing up for an exciting and challenging season. With a mix of returning players and new additions, Coach April Lopez is determined to lead her team to success. In this preview article, we will take a closer look at the team's upcoming season and discuss their strengths, challenges, and strategies. The team is fortunate to have five returners from last season, including two seniors and three sophomores. According to Coach Lopez, the team's individual player confidence is the key to success this year. The three returning sophomores were District Selections last season, proving their talent and dedication to the sport. Some new players are expected to make an immediate impact on the team. Coach Lopez shares that all five returners are coachable and hardworking, seeking outside training opportunities whenever possible. She also highlights one freshman player, Kaitlyn Herrera, who has played AAU all summer and brings a competitive edge to the team. Coach Lopez praises her for simply going out and playing without hesitation. Team captain, senior Mia Adames, plays an essential role on the team. Coach Lopez looks for players with excellent communication skills and an unselfish and coachable attitude to lead the team. Adames fits this role perfectly and ensures effective communication on the court, even when the coaching staff is not available. Coach Lopez emphasizes the importance of team chemistry and camaraderie, which she plans to develop through team outings, pre-game dinners, and attending college games. As a coach, motivating players to reach their full potential can be a challenging task. Coach Lopez shares that she balances her coaching style by being straightforward and correcting mistakes while also highlighting the players' strengths. She also finds ways to get her team out of their heads and into the game, whether through team outings or providing words of motivation. Preparation is crucial for any successful sports team, but Coach Lopez has faced some challenges this season. With her players involved in other activities and being a small 3A school, the team has limited practice time together before the season starts. However, she works hard to ensure that the team is ready and focused when the season begins. Team's Schedule: The team's schedule consists of tough opponents and competitive games. As a coach, Coach Lopez looks forward to challenging her team by playing scrappy and tough teams in tournament play.