 "Photo: Jeanetta Roberts")
Squeaks from tennis shoes stopping and starting on the basketball court echoed throughout the gymnasium at STLCC-Meramec, Saturday, Feb. 6, as the Women Magic defeated the Penn Valley Scouts of Kansas City, Mo., 68-58.
“We showed a lot of character and guts,” said head coach Shelly Ethridge.
“When we can play against the number one team in the region right now and continue to battle and to come up with a victory, that was really huge, and I am really proud of our kids.”
The victory Saturday gives the Magic an overall record of 10-11 and a conference record of 2-4. However, there is still more basketball to be played and aspects of the game to work on, before the season is over.
“We had some problems with the full-court press early,” said Ethridge. “We had some problems with it at the end, but the most important thing is that we battled through it and pulled out on top.”
The roster, which holds 11 freshman and two sophomores, has brought together a group of resilient basketball players who are not afraid pass the ball, as many as five or six times, before finding the open shot. It is about the team first. The individual statistics are secondary.
“We’re trying to get everyone involved in our offense,” said Ethridge. “Our post players are pretty much our main offensive scorers for our team. So, we’re trying to get our wings and our guards to be a little bit more offensive minded. So, we try to work the ball a little bit before we get it in the inside.”
The Magic’s final home game of the season is Wednesday, Feb. 10, against rival and sister campus, Forest Park. They will finish the regular season on the road, traveling to Hillsboro, Trenton and Nevada , Mo. On Feb. 20, the Regions XVI Tournament play will begin.
Every time the blow of a whistle echoes throughout the gym, the Magic hover around Ethridge. Her message to the team is simple.
“I keep telling them to play hard,” said Ethridge. “I really believe that if our kids play hard then we can have a positive outcome in the game. I think that we’re one of the most athletic teams, but because we are so young we make a lot of mistakes—unforced errors; but if we play hard, even with all the mistakes that we do make, we’re always in the game.”
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