By Moses Leos III
After relying on a methodical pace last year, the Hays Lady Rebels basketball team will focus on speeding up the tempo in 2015.
It’s a theme Lady Rebel head coach Danny Preuss believes will take advantage of the team’s strengths — speed and ball handling.
“Last year, we had 6’4” girls [in the paint], so we wanted to get it inside a lot. It will be a different flavor this year,” Preuss said. “The girls have done well about buying into it. They are not used to anything like this.”
Guiding Hays’ transition into a fast-paced offense will be senior guards Alexis Delgado, Karlie Schroeder and post Maddie Zapata. Preuss refers to them as “The Triplets”.
He said their cohesiveness will aid the team in operating the “run and gun” offense. Also helping is an abundance of guards on the roster.
Returning guards Amanda Benjamin, Choon-Hee Chae and Tara Ramsey will provide additional backcourt experience. In the frontcourt, Hays will gain the services of sophomore Jada Finister, who moved from Michigan last year.
According to Preuss, an up-tempo style has been successful in basketball in recent years.
“I think it’s good. If you go to a state tournament…the up-tempo game is a style a lot of teams play now,” Preuss said. “That’s that style we’re going to face in the new 6A district.”
That mentality also extends to defense.
Preuss said putting pressure on opposing teams, instead of the other way around, is his goal.
He said the team has been able to handle pressure this year. It could be a factor during 14-6A play, where Hays takes on Anderson, Bowie and Austin High.
“There won’t be an easy game in this district at all,” Delgado said. “It’s going to be much more difficult competition (in district).”
But the change has been a challenge for the players, who say practices are “fast paced.”
According to Schroeder, focus and teamwork are the priorities for the team to reach their goals.
“We’re going to push ourselves to get into the playoffs,” she said. “We want to at least get past the first round.”
