Feb. 20, 2013 — In his first year at the helm, West Carter girls basketball coach Bart Stevens knew his team was not going to lay down for anyone.
In the storied tradition of West Carter, the Lady Comets rallied around its new coach and has put together some impressive wins like representing the 16th Region at the All “A” State Tournament and winning double digit games.
Now every team is 0-0 going into the district tournament and this team believes it has a chance.
“It’s a new season and we’re going out for the win,” senior guard Brooke Callihan said. “We want to win Wednesday and Friday night and advance to the region.”
“When you go into the postseason, your team is going to be nervous,” Stevens said. “It will take some time for them to calm down and it makes them think a little more when a lot is on the line. There’s no tomorrow in the postseason. It’s right here and now.”
The Lady Comets have tournament experience already, winning four games in seven days during the All “A” Regional tournament back in January. Callihan believes that gives West an advantage heading into the district tournament.
“We’ve got four seniors and we’ve played a lot of sophomores and freshman and it really gave them a lot more experience and we’re going to be ready,” Callihan said.
West has veterans like Callihan, Megan Centers, Chelsea Zeigler and Mikaela Buckler to steady the ship in the postseason. But Stevens said the Lady Comets will have an X-Factor.
“Alexis Berry is probably playing as good of basketball as any player in the region,” Stevens said. “She has really picked it up in all aspects of her game. She’s really come a long way.”
West Carter will play Morgan County Wednesday night at 7:45 p.m. at East Carter in the first round of the 62nd District Tournament. Coach Stevens knows the Lady Cougars, who have not won a game inside the region this year, that his team cannot take anyone lightly.
“They’re going to be ready to play,” Stevens said. “We’re going to have to play really well to win. They’ve got the same thing in mind we do and that’s a trip to Morehead (for the regional tournament) and we just have to play.”
For West Carter to have any chance in the post season, there is one thing they must do, according to Callihan.
“We have to make shots,” Callihan said. “We’re shooting a low percentage and we have to knock them down and have to keep connecting with the basket.”
“If we can shoot 35-40 percent and with the way we play defense, we’re going to be a tough out,” Stevens said. “We have to finish. If we can finish shots, we’ll be in good shape.”
MacKenzie Bates can be reached at mbates@journal-times.com or by telephone at 1-800-247-6142.
