With just under two weeks until the basketball season starts, both coaches and players on the girl’s team are looking forward to what’s ahead and reflecting on the past season.
Last year, the team ended the regular season with a record of 15-5. They then made a playoff run before ultimately losing to Medfield, the Division 2 state champions, 57-44 in the elite eight.
The Mustangs had already played Medfield two times earlier in the season and ended up losing both games.
Assistant Coach Stephen Burrill recognizes that Medfield is a strong team, but embraces the challenge.
“Anytime you have the state champion in your league, Medfield, it’s a really strong program and we’ve had some really great battles with them. They have great coaches, great players, so I think that’s always one we circle in our calendar and we focus on,” Burrill said.
Burrill’s plans for a strong season include an unselfish, defensively-minded team.
“When you’re on a basketball court, I think a lot of people focus on scoring, but there is so much more to basketball. We really pride ourselves on defense, so we’re looking for people that have that mentality, that want to get after it on defense,” he said.
Senior captain Ava Mourad’s game plan to be successful this season includes communication and cooperation between teammates.
“I plan to motivate the team by encouraging everyone to communicate and make sure we have a good bond with each other because I think that’s a big part in having team chemistry and winning games” she said.
Senior Ava O’Neil, the other captain, enjoys being part of the program and wants to keep the same dynamics going this season.
“I love the energy, there’s no drama, it’s healthy competition, everyone gets along and my goal for the season is to just continue that culture around Norwood girl’s basketball and just get after it. One thing we do is work hard,” O’Neil said.
When choosing the captains before every season, coaches Burrill and McDonnell put a lot of thought into who will best represent their team and the program as a whole. They posed many questions and evaluated not only the playing abilities of their captains but also their leadership skills.
“Who’s going to persevere and work through that and with that being said who’s also going to be a great teammate? Who’s going to pick people up, who’s going to lead by example, who’s going to get people to feel motivated even if they’re not? Those are the characteristics we look for in our leaders,” Burrill said.
“You are the leaders for a team that has a lot of different individuals, a lot of different mindsets, and so your job is to, even when times get tough, say the right things, do the right things and show people the way. That’s whether you’re feeling up for it that day or not. You always have to bring that same constant energy and just be a reliable teammate,” he continued.
Freshman Nicayla Pinnick has played basketball for years and is excited to become part of the program. She values the captains and is ready to learn from them and the coaches this season.
“I think both the Ava’s do a good job on helping the team stay together and work together and keep them on track and I think they both make sure that the team is always hyped to play,” she said.
