Basketball Feature: McClain Lady Tigers
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
This season, there are changes for the McClain Lady Tigers basketball program, one being that unlike last year, they have seniors on the team. That is where a group of four ladies have stepped in to fill the void of last season.
For the Lady Tigers, their senior class will consist of four players who have a good amount of varsity experience, including Allison Willett, Caitlyn Lovett, Katy Unger and Tara Karnes.
The group knows the season will be different than most, as it is the final year they will play for the Lady Tigers, although all four of them began playing the game in the third grade.
All four players thanked current coaches, past coaches and their families for helping prepare them to where they are today within the Lady Tigers' program.
"I was introduced to the game by my dad, and ever since then, the game has been a part of my life," Lovett said.
Unger spoke about how they have played through the varying of levels of basketball together.
"To be a senior on the team … it is an accomplishment," Unger said. "It is an accomplishment because I've been able to make it this far. The four of us … we've gone through all the years together, and we are going to end it together.
"It has always been us four, pretty much."
Karnes also spoke about finishing her career with three others who began the same time as she did.
"We all started together, and now we are going to end this together," she said. "It has always pretty much been us, so it is great these three are still here.
"It's great we are seniors. It has been a long time coming, but we aren't sure we really want it to be here."
Willett also said it is great to be back with her longtime teammates for one final season.
"It means a lot to play with these girls," she said. "We've been through a lot of practices and have put a lot of hours into it. It is sad all of this is coming to an end, but I'm proud we've all been through all of it together."
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Lovett agreed with her teammates about being proud of their accomplishments.
"We've all stuck with this since the third grade," Lovett said. "We've played travel ball together on the Little Lady Tigers, and now we are seniors … which is weird."
As all four have mentioned, they are proud to be seniors, and they are each looking forward to the season to begin.
"I'm excited to see how far we can go," Unger said. "We have a lot of younger players coming up that can help produce what we want to accomplish as a team this season."
"The biggest thing I'm looking forward to is playing with the exact players we had last year," Karnes said. "We didn't lose any seniors last season, so all of our momentum that we gained at the end of last season is back.
"The team aspect of the game, I'm looking forward to that."
Willett wants to make this season fun.
"We always have fun," she said. "We have fun with the coaches and our teammates, but we go to practice and put in the work that is needed. We have a lot of potential, which is big for us."
Lovett said the team has a lot going for them.
"Like Tara said, we didn't lose any seniors, so we do have that momentum from last year," she said. "We are picking up from that and working to get a lot better every day."
One thing about this group is they were basically forced to be the leaders a season early, as they were the veterans of the team when they were juniors, so they aren't overwhelmed in the role they have inherited for a second straight season.
"It was pretty intimidating last year, but I feel like we’ll come into this year with a lot more confidence," Unger said. "We are starting where we left off from last year."
"Last year was a big stepping stone because none of us had played much varsity before," Karnes said. "We were thrown into it to see how it was. We had to be the leaders and take the responsibility to lead the team and do what was expected of us."
Lovett and Willett each spoke about the role they had to play last season.
"It's hard to come in and try to lead girls who you haven't played with before, but it taught us how to be a team," Willett said. "We are looking forward to adding to that role this year and teaching the younger girls what we know."
"It was different for me last year because I didn't play my sophomore year because of an injury," Lovett said. "All the girls accepted me back, and it was hard to get used to the game, but now I'm used to the role and know what to expect."
For the Lady Tigers, their senior class will consist of four players who have a good amount of varsity experience, including Allison Willett, Caitlyn Lovett, Katy Unger and Tara Karnes.
The group knows the season will be different than most, as it is the final year they will play for the Lady Tigers, although all four of them began playing the game in the third grade.
All four players thanked current coaches, past coaches and their families for helping prepare them to where they are today within the Lady Tigers' program.
"I was introduced to the game by my dad, and ever since then, the game has been a part of my life," Lovett said.
Unger spoke about how they have played through the varying of levels of basketball together.
"To be a senior on the team … it is an accomplishment," Unger said. "It is an accomplishment because I've been able to make it this far. The four of us … we've gone through all the years together, and we are going to end it together.
"It has always been us four, pretty much."
Karnes also spoke about finishing her career with three others who began the same time as she did.
"We all started together, and now we are going to end this together," she said. "It has always pretty much been us, so it is great these three are still here.
"It's great we are seniors. It has been a long time coming, but we aren't sure we really want it to be here."
Willett also said it is great to be back with her longtime teammates for one final season.
"It means a lot to play with these girls," she said. "We've been through a lot of practices and have put a lot of hours into it. It is sad all of this is coming to an end, but I'm proud we've all been through all of it together."
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Lovett agreed with her teammates about being proud of their accomplishments.
"We've all stuck with this since the third grade," Lovett said. "We've played travel ball together on the Little Lady Tigers, and now we are seniors … which is weird."
As all four have mentioned, they are proud to be seniors, and they are each looking forward to the season to begin.
"I'm excited to see how far we can go," Unger said. "We have a lot of younger players coming up that can help produce what we want to accomplish as a team this season."
"The biggest thing I'm looking forward to is playing with the exact players we had last year," Karnes said. "We didn't lose any seniors last season, so all of our momentum that we gained at the end of last season is back.
"The team aspect of the game, I'm looking forward to that."
Willett wants to make this season fun.
"We always have fun," she said. "We have fun with the coaches and our teammates, but we go to practice and put in the work that is needed. We have a lot of potential, which is big for us."
Lovett said the team has a lot going for them.
"Like Tara said, we didn't lose any seniors, so we do have that momentum from last year," she said. "We are picking up from that and working to get a lot better every day."
One thing about this group is they were basically forced to be the leaders a season early, as they were the veterans of the team when they were juniors, so they aren't overwhelmed in the role they have inherited for a second straight season.
"It was pretty intimidating last year, but I feel like we’ll come into this year with a lot more confidence," Unger said. "We are starting where we left off from last year."
"Last year was a big stepping stone because none of us had played much varsity before," Karnes said. "We were thrown into it to see how it was. We had to be the leaders and take the responsibility to lead the team and do what was expected of us."
Lovett and Willett each spoke about the role they had to play last season.
"It's hard to come in and try to lead girls who you haven't played with before, but it taught us how to be a team," Willett said. "We are looking forward to adding to that role this year and teaching the younger girls what we know."
"It was different for me last year because I didn't play my sophomore year because of an injury," Lovett said. "All the girls accepted me back, and it was hard to get used to the game, but now I'm used to the role and know what to expect."