On the Rise: Reflecting on St. Andrews Women’s Basketball Season

The St. Andrews Women’s Basketball team concluded their season with an overall record of 11-18 and a conference record of 7-15, finishing in 11th place out of 15 teams in the conference standings. While the team faced its share of challenges throughout the season, there were numerous positives to take away from the year. The coaching staff and players have gained invaluable experience, and the program is poised for future growth.

Coaches' Reflection
As the season has come to a close, the coaching staff reflects on the progress made throughout the year. Despite the final record, there were significant strides in individual player development and team growth. "Our primary goal is to help our players improve both as athletes and individuals," expressed Coach Hannah. "We’re committed to continuing their development through individual workouts, practice sessions, and film study to address areas of weakness and build on their strengths."

Improvement and Growth
This season was all about growth. While wins and losses matter, the St. Andrews coaching staff focused on helping players develop both mentally and physically. The emphasis was on skill-building, increasing basketball IQ, and fostering better teamwork. The players took significant steps forward, particularly in their understanding of the game and their roles within the system. The foundation laid this season will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on their future success.

Coaching Goals
As the season concluded, the coaching staff took time to reflect on the progress made throughout the year. Although the team didn’t achieve its ultimate goal of making the conference playoffs, the growth shown by both individual players and the team as a whole was significant. "We were pleased with the growth and progress of our team as a whole," said the coaching staff. "While we didn’t achieve everything, we set out to do, the strides we made in skill development, basketball IQ, and teamwork were clear. Our players continued to improve, and that’s a positive sign for the future."

Areas of Focus for Next Season
The biggest area of focus for next season will be on defense and offensive rebounding. Both of these aspects were areas of inconsistency this season. The coaching staff plans to be more intentional with their defensive strategies, striving to be more disruptive and deliberate in their approach. Additionally, offensive rebounding will be a point of emphasis, with the goal of securing more second-chance opportunities and improving scoring efficiency.

Outlook on the Program’s Progress
Despite not achieving the goal of making the conference playoffs, the season was still a positive step forward for the program. The team showed remarkable growth throughout the year, particularly with the inclusion of 10 new players. Integrating so many new faces into the program brought challenges, including the need to develop team chemistry and camaraderie. However, the coaching staff is confident that the experience gained this season will pay dividends moving forward. "It often takes a year or two for a team to build the team and reach the level required to compete at the highest level," said the coaching staff. "We’re excited about the future of the program and the direction we’re heading."

As St. Andrews Women’s Basketball looks ahead to next season, there’s a strong sense of optimism surrounding the program. With a focus on continued player development, a commitment to improving key areas like defense and rebounding, and the growth of team chemistry, the future is bright for this young and determined group.