A 2-2 mark over the course of three days was how the Hays Rebels closed the Hays CISD classic tournament it co-hosted last weekend.
Danny Preuss, Hays girls head basketball coach, said the tournament helped give his young roster key minutes on the court as they rapidly approach the start of district play.
“Getting my team a lot of minutes now and giving them a little more confidence on the court will hopefully bode well in the future,” Preuss said.
Hays opened with a loss to Killeen Shoemaker, which was then followed with a narrow 56-50 loss to Schertz Clemens. The Rebels rebounded with key wins over Elgin and Austin Reagan.
Preuss said his roster was consistent across the board, with key contributions coming from freshmen Sydney Collins, Lily Guevara and senior Chloe Aguirre. Hays relied on the play of senior Gabby Bosquez, but also obtained points from bench players including senior Faith Duran.
One of the primary struggles during the tournament, however, was trying to work on defense, which Preuss said the Rebels must improve upon.
Improving on the offensive side is also a focus for the Rebels. Over the past few weeks, Hays has had more shooting workouts during practices, Preuss said.
“I don’t cut anyone off,” Preuss said. “If they are shooting poorly from the outside, I tell them to take it to the hole, get to the free throw line and gain some confidence.”
