HERITAGE LADY GENERALS FULL COURT PRESS
With Heritage head coach Greg Elkins
After such a successful season last year, talk about the excitement level surrounding this year’s team, especially since the vast majority of the squad is set to return.
From a coach’s perspective, I think our staff is really excited about the upcoming season. We have a solid core and a good group returning. We have some experience returning, which is huge and, more importantly, we have some really good people returning.
I think we get caught up sometimes in what types of players we have returning when we should be more concerned with what type of people we have returning. From a player’s perspective, judging by the preseason and early practices, I think they are excited and ready to compete.
There are some obvious differences that I anticipated, but to be honest, I think they are very similar as far as how I coach them. For the most part, girls may be a little more black-and-white than boys. They listen a little better, but I also think that comes at a price because, when they need to deviate from a play and think outside the box, they tend to struggle with that sometimes. But overall, I think it’s been pretty comparable.
What is the strength of this year’s team, or what do you think it will be by the time the season gets into region play?
This senior class is ready to lead this team. They have learned to lead and be vocal. They have learned to lead by example and help the younger players understand the expectations within this program. I am so proud of this group for how they have come together and I am really excited to see how they lead this season.
With that said, I think last year was a good season, but it was not without its challenges. They have a better understanding of me and how I want things done. I think this team has a really good chance to be a very united and very close basketball team. I’ve seen it taking place in front of my eyes and it makes me really happy.
Now that you have had a year under your belt at Heritage, what are one or two of the biggest differences between coaching high school girls’ basketball as opposed to coaching high school boys’ basketball that maybe you hadn’t thought about before last season?
What is the key or keys to this season?
We have to maintain our defensive intensity. That’s our key to success. We have to be connected. We can’t be satisfied with last season’s improvement. We have to play with poise, which we did down the stretch last season. That needs to carry over.
We need to play with confidence, which should be easier with four returning starters and six players returning with valuable minutes played.