Knowing teammates helps Starkville girls AAU squad succeed
It helps to know teammates.
That's what makes Starkville's 17-under girls Amateur Athletic Union basketball squad so successful.
John Outlaw, who coaches the team along with his brother Travis, said the players are all on the same page.
“I just get some of them in the summer, but I think them just knowing each other, playing with each other and working under coach (Kristie) Williams, they've kind of got it in basketball,” John Outlaw said. “That's a big step because we've played some places where the girls (of opponents) never practiced with each other and even knew each other. With our team, everybody knows everybody, so it's a big advantage and really helps us out.”
Starkville's AAU team has met challenges in Jackson, Memphis and in Louisiana and has not finished lower than second at any tournament this year.
The biggest challenge to date for Starkville comes Wednesday at the AAU Nationals in Kentucky. There will be an event at Las Vegas in another week that will have more teams (over 100), but the tournament in Kentucky is more prestigious.
Outlaw's team is made up of girls from Starkville High School and he says the players are already prepared once he gets them.
“I have to commend coach Kristie Williams, Gwen Johnson and Anita Johnson,” Outlaw said. “They've done a heck of a job with those girls.”