The Augusta Girl Panthers have been taking over sturdy competitors this summer season.
Beneath the route of their new head coach, Todd Kelsch, the Augusta Girl Panthers have returned to the basketball courtroom early this yr to get in some practices, and tackle some contemporary opponents in summer season basketball video games. The first focus for the Girl Panthers this summer season is to get a few of their newer teammates some on the courtroom expertise, and get used to the management of their new head coach.
Management is one thing coach Kelsch finds most essential. Though the crew most frequently appears to be like to crew captain Kenzington Hinson, coach Kelsch maintains that everybody on the crew should fulfill a management function with the intention to achieve success.
“Everybody has stepped as much as present that management high quality that I search for in every participant. It’s been a problem for a few of them that weren’t used to being in that function. Most individuals assume in case you have one chief, you’re good to go, however that’s not essentially the case. I really feel that if everyone seems to be keen to guide, we’re all on the identical web page and we are able to get to the place we have to go.” mentioned coach Kelsch.
Thus far this summer season coach Kelsch and his Girl Panthers have taken on 4 groups, the Pendleton County Girl Cats and Boone County Girl Rebels on June 6, and the Robertson County Girl Devils and Bracken County Girl Bears on June 8.
“We’re kinda shorthanded. We now have seven highschool ladies, we now have some seventh graders that come to observe, in addition they have center faculty observe occurring proper now, in order that they acquired lots occurring. We performed properly, we’re making an attempt to be extra aggressive on protection, so we’re getting drained extra shortly. We’re trying to enhance our spacing on offense, and we’re doing a extremely good job on that. We now have some excessive IQ varsity gamers and it solely took me about two practices to assist them perceive what we’re searching for. We’ll rating a number of factors subsequent season.” mentioned coach Kelsch.
The Girl Panthers have 4 extra video games developing subsequent week at Fleming County Excessive College. On Monday, they are going to tackle the East Carter Girl Raiders and the Fleming County Girl Panthers, and the Rowan County Girl Vikings and Morgan County Girl Cougars on Tuesday.
Though the crew is brief handed, and dealing with a youthful roster than most, coach Kelsch is assured in his groups potential to deliver dwelling constructive outcomes. Whether or not the crew brings dwelling a win or not, Augusta is discovering positives in each recreation they play. Switching up roles, and taking part in completely different types successfully have been issues the Girl Panthers have labored on of their practices this summer season, and have been in a position to pull off of their video games.
“I’ve been centered on producing not simply victories however a constructive outlook and constructive outcomes and it might not be a win. Like Pendleton County beat us, however there have been some constructive outcomes from that recreation. We guarded twenty minutes full courtroom, and the women instructed me they performed a number of zone protection final yr so these constructive outcomes are one thing that’s good to see.” mentioned coach Kelsch.
Kelsch took over as head coach of the Girl Panthers close to the top of the 2022-23 faculty yr, and has been engaged on constructing his crew, and getting them within the place to win video games since he started.
He commends his groups’ constructive angle and work ethic. Though summer season ball will not be a requirement for the crew, a number of of his present, and future gamers have proven up persistently and excitedly, able to be taught from their new head coach. As a result of Augusta gymnasium present process renovations, the Girl Panthers have been pressured to observe outdoors on the native park. Based on Kelsch, this has not affected the women angle within the slightest. He mentioned that they proceed to point out up, and are desperate to be taught. An simply coachable crew is all the time an amazing plus for any coach, particularly one getting his first few head teaching video games beneath his belt.
The most important challenges Kelsch and the Girl Panthers have confronted to date, is discovering a time to get everybody collectively.
“Youngsters wish to be youngsters, and so they have plans for the summer season. A number of our ladies have jobs, so scheduling practices which are handy for all of our gamers has been difficult.” mentioned coach Kelsch, “We solely have a two hour window the place everybody is accessible.”
Regardless of a brief bench and a younger roster, and the scheduling conflicts, Augusta is nothing however excited for the remainder of their summer season ball schedule, and to get again into the gymnasium when the season begins again up in October. This weeks video games will likely be a problem for the Girl Panthers, however they’re assured in their very own potential heading into the competitors.
“We play a number of sixteenth area groups this week, so I’m anticipating some extra bodily video games than we’ve seen to date. We’ve performed largely opponents we’re conversant in to date. We’re gonna face some groups we’re not conversant in. What I’m wanting ahead to probably the most is seeing how we reply to physicality, and the way does that have an effect on what we wish to do. We will’t enable bodily groups to take us out of our rhythm, and power us to play a method we’re not comfy taking part in.”