With Time Comes Changes for the Girls' Basketball Team
By: Alyena Hoy
The William Chrisman girl’s varsity basketball team faces some major changes this year. From a new head coach to the graduation of several core players, 2021-2022 has the makings of a transition season.
Last year was one of the most successful seasons in Chrisman girls basketball history. The team finished fourth in Missouri Class 5, compiling a 23-7 record in the process. But that team graduated five players, including All-State team member and Division I signee Jacqueline David. Then came news longtime coach Scott Schaefer would step down to take a job at his alma mater in Nebraska. Enter Eric Schroer, Chrisman social studies teacher and an assistant coach on the boy’s team last year.
“When Coach Schaefer moved on, Mr. McGhee, the athletic director, came to me and asked me if I had some interest in it, and after talking with some folks, I just thought it was a good opportunity,” said Schroer.
Shortly after, he became the new coach. The new players began to join the team and the girls began to practice and learn lessons for the games. But according to Schroer, not all of the lessons they learn can be used only on the court.
“There’s a lot of life lessons that you can learn from basketball so we try to relay that onto the girls and show them the bigger picture,” said Schroer.
At the beginning of this season, Varsity lost their first game against Hickman High School. But at their second game vs Savannah, they were able to come together and win. During these games, returning player and junior Lillian Miller noticed a difference in how Schroer coaches compared to last year’s coach.
“He’s very focused on our reactions and how we play throughout the game and our body language, and it’s not always about the wins, it’s about the experience in the way we play as a team,” said Miller.
Miller is not the only returning player that has noticed a difference in the team. Junior Mele Taula notices that Coach Schroer keeps them working and playing together more as a team.
“We are all more positive and put together,” said Taula.
Even with the new coach, there have still been some changes for the Varsity team. Since most of their players from last year have graduated, it left Miller and Taula and some of the new players on the team.
“We don’t have any other returners so it’s been difficult,” said Miller.
There have been some changes to the Varsity team this year, but the team is going to try its hardest to make this season a success. And according to Schroer, success is not about the wins, but instead the growth of the players throughout the season.
“For me, it’s just simply, you know, are the girls better basketball players and are we a better unit, a better team at the end of the season than when we started the season. And that’s to be honest, with us being so inexperienced Varsity wise, that’s what I’m going to look at. This is kind of a growth year for everybody so I’m looking more at the growth than really the record this year,” said Schroer.
Last year was one of the most successful seasons in Chrisman girls basketball history. The team finished fourth in Missouri Class 5, compiling a 23-7 record in the process. But that team graduated five players, including All-State team member and Division I signee Jacqueline David. Then came news longtime coach Scott Schaefer would step down to take a job at his alma mater in Nebraska. Enter Eric Schroer, Chrisman social studies teacher and an assistant coach on the boy’s team last year.
“When Coach Schaefer moved on, Mr. McGhee, the athletic director, came to me and asked me if I had some interest in it, and after talking with some folks, I just thought it was a good opportunity,” said Schroer.
Shortly after, he became the new coach. The new players began to join the team and the girls began to practice and learn lessons for the games. But according to Schroer, not all of the lessons they learn can be used only on the court.
“There’s a lot of life lessons that you can learn from basketball so we try to relay that onto the girls and show them the bigger picture,” said Schroer.
At the beginning of this season, Varsity lost their first game against Hickman High School. But at their second game vs Savannah, they were able to come together and win. During these games, returning player and junior Lillian Miller noticed a difference in how Schroer coaches compared to last year’s coach.
“He’s very focused on our reactions and how we play throughout the game and our body language, and it’s not always about the wins, it’s about the experience in the way we play as a team,” said Miller.
Miller is not the only returning player that has noticed a difference in the team. Junior Mele Taula notices that Coach Schroer keeps them working and playing together more as a team.
“We are all more positive and put together,” said Taula.
Even with the new coach, there have still been some changes for the Varsity team. Since most of their players from last year have graduated, it left Miller and Taula and some of the new players on the team.
“We don’t have any other returners so it’s been difficult,” said Miller.
There have been some changes to the Varsity team this year, but the team is going to try its hardest to make this season a success. And according to Schroer, success is not about the wins, but instead the growth of the players throughout the season.
“For me, it’s just simply, you know, are the girls better basketball players and are we a better unit, a better team at the end of the season than when we started the season. And that’s to be honest, with us being so inexperienced Varsity wise, that’s what I’m going to look at. This is kind of a growth year for everybody so I’m looking more at the growth than really the record this year,” said Schroer.