WAYNESVILLE— Although girls basketball season is months away, Waynesville High School girls basketball coach Brittney Matlock is getting things started early.
Matlock was hosting a girls basketball camp at WHS on Tuesday and hopes that it will prepare her players for the upcoming season. More importantly, she hopes they will have fun with one another.
The camp, which started Monday, is an opportunity for players to come together.
“It definitely helps condition-wise and to stay in shape,” Matlock said.
She said mostly the team has been doing team drills and team defense.
Turnout at the camp is up from last year.
“We’ve had more kids here than last year,” she said. “It’s been good.”
The mix of high school girls — ranging from incoming freshmen to seniors — allows Matlock the chance to interact with them in a less-stressful environment.
“It’s good to be around them in a relaxed setting rather than the season when it’s a little more intense,” Matlock said.
But Matlock knows that she’s happy to see her players.
“It’s always good to see them,” she said. “It makes it worth coming out here.”
The team was preparing for an event in Rolla this upcoming weekend, where 70 teams will play.
Mariah Wilder, a senior forward for the Lady Tigers who has played on the varsity team since her sophomore year, said that she enjoys the chance to mentor underclassmen. But she had words to them and said that they should be coming to as many practices as they can.
And what about all that advice she’s gotten from her coaches over the years?
“Don’t blow it off,” Wilder said. “Use it to get better.”
Since the camp started Monday, Wilder said she noticed a change with the individuals she’s been working and interacting with in that one-day period.
“They’ve been listening,” she said. “They’ve had a big change. They’re getting better.”
She said those changes involved mentality and working harder. The chance to work out at a summer camp also allows Wilder to get to know who she’ll be playing with in the upcoming season.
“I know the people we’re going to have,” she said.
Laura Wood, who will be a sophomore at WHS, said the camp helps her develop.
“It gets me back in shape,” she said. “Playing at JV (junior varsity) helped me mature.”
Her teammate Niki House also felt the same and said the camp has been an enjoyable experience. It also allows newcomers to see what the team is all about and helps House develop as a better player.
“It’s been pretty good,” House said. “I’m having fun.”
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WAYNESVILLE— Although girls basketball season is months away, Waynesville High School girls basketball coach Brittney Matlock is getting things started early.
Matlock was hosting a girls basketball camp at WHS on Tuesday and hopes that it will prepare her players for the upcoming season. More importantly, she hopes they will have fun with one another.
The camp, which started Monday, is an opportunity for players to come together.
“It definitely helps condition-wise and to stay in shape,” Matlock said.
She said mostly the team has been doing team drills and team defense.
Turnout at the camp is up from last year.
“We’ve had more kids here than last year,” she said. “It’s been good.”
The mix of high school girls — ranging from incoming freshmen to seniors — allows Matlock the chance to interact with them in a less-stressful environment.
“It’s good to be around them in a relaxed setting rather than the season when it’s a little more intense,” Matlock said.
But Matlock knows that she’s happy to see her players.
“It’s always good to see them,” she said. “It makes it worth coming out here.”
The team was preparing for an event in Rolla this upcoming weekend, where 70 teams will play.
Mariah Wilder, a senior forward for the Lady Tigers who has played on the varsity team since her sophomore year, said that she enjoys the chance to mentor underclassmen. But she had words to them and said that they should be coming to as many practices as they can.
And what about all that advice she’s gotten from her coaches over the years?
“Don’t blow it off,” Wilder said. “Use it to get better.”
Since the camp started Monday, Wilder said she noticed a change with the individuals she’s been working and interacting with in that one-day period.
“They’ve been listening,” she said. “They’ve had a big change. They’re getting better.”
She said those changes involved mentality and working harder. The chance to work out at a summer camp also allows Wilder to get to know who she’ll be playing with in the upcoming season.
“I know the people we’re going to have,” she said.
Laura Wood, who will be a sophomore at WHS, said the camp helps her develop.
“It gets me back in shape,” she said. “Playing at JV (junior varsity) helped me mature.”
Her teammate Niki House also felt the same and said the camp has been an enjoyable experience. It also allows newcomers to see what the team is all about and helps House develop as a better player.
“It’s been pretty good,” House said. “I’m having fun.”
