DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - 'Chemistry' was the word brought up time and time again ahead of the MacArthur girls basketball team's playoff game on Monday night.
"In the beginning, I didn't feel I felt that initially, but I feel like they have fun now in the locker room before the games, in pregaming and they are just all on the same page," JaDawn Bryant, first year head coach of MacArthur, said. "I believe that we're getting to that place of actually building that team chemistry that I desire."
The Generals only have two seniors to go along with a first year coach. Even so, they'll hit the playoff hardwood at Danville High School this week.
"We have to get locked in in practice, get locked in on the court, we have to keep our composure and stay locked in and make sure we run the plays right," Lexi Meyer, a sophomore guard, said.
Meyer's teammate, Kylee Jackson, a senior guard, added, "Work hard, listen, and run our plays because sometimes we just get out of control and we need to slow down."
While winning has been the goal all season, so has building chemistry and coming together as a team.
"At first we didn't really know anybody because we're all young and now our freshman or sophomores that play up, they've grown a lot," Jackson said. "They've relaxed more, so it's really good that they've relaxed and slowed down and gotten more with the pace that varsity goes."
Heading into the playoffs, Coach Bryant acknowledged that there are nerves.
Bryant said, "There's always nerves coming into this. As the first year coach, I know basketball, I love basketball, but it doesn't take away the nervousness. So, even going into Monday's game for the regional game, definitely nervous but also confident."
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