The basketball season ended months ago in Parkers Chapel but the Lady Trojans haven't allowed any dust to gather on the hardwood. Coach Justin Welch said the team has participated in team camps at Drew Central and Lafayette County with more activity planned late in the summer.
"We've been playing pretty well. Obviously in the earlier team camp, it wasn't very long after school so they were in a little bit better shape. I thought we played really well," Welch said. "When I go to team camps, I'm not really going there to win ball games. I'm there to develop the players. I thought that goal was definitely accomplished. I feel like each of the girls had an opportunity to get out there and show me what they can do. It also gives them an opportunity to see what they need to work on throughout the summer.
"They actually played really well. We have an opportunity to be deeper this year. Even though we are younger, I could see us going eight or nine deep and being very competitive."
The Lady Trojans enjoyed one of their most successful seasons this past year, advancing to the 2A State Tournament after winning the regional. PC graduated the core of that squad and will have a different appearance. This summer, Welch said he's had 11 players on the senior high team, including seven sophomores to go with seniors Rebekah Hardy, Madison Sullivan, Tess Monteith and Ashton Herren.
Despite the influx of youth, Welch doesn't believe there'll be much of a learning curve for the sophomores.
"I think that group has played enough basketball that I'm not worried about them catching up to the speed of the game like I typically would be with most groups," he said. "There is quite a difference in game speed when you go from junior high to senior high. But this bunch has played enough basketball that I'm not concerned about that as much.
"Our main thing when you have a group that's four seniors and seven sophomores, I think it's going to be a chemisty thing. I need them to mesh pretty quickly. I don't think the chemistry issue will necessarily be an issue, it's just a matter of them catching up and getting on the same page, which these team camps have been vital to that."
The Lady Trojans plan to travel to Monticello for summer league play at Drew Central the next two Tuesdays. Welch said the team will practice on Monday before competing the next evening.
Several of the players spread their time between sports during the summer and also the school year. Still, Welch said he's been impressed with the participation this summer.
"I have not had a player miss a practice or a game, yet. That is something you don't come by very often as a coach," he said. "They make arrangements and they get there. As a coach, that's all I can ask for them. I bragged on them the other day before I let them go. I said, 'I appreciate it,' because when I call a practice, they get there. That helps a ton because they're willing to work and put in the time."