By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
Despite a slow start to their 2022-23 campaign, the Abilene girls’ basketball team continues to battle as the Cowgirls enter the final month of their regular season.
Abilene is already just one win away from their total from last season, and despite holding a record of 2-11, is trending in the right direction with a still inexperienced squad, settling in on the varsity floor.
“We’ve really committed to getting a little better each day,” first-year head coach Shawn Herrman said. “Most of our team didn’t see any varsity time last year and several of them have never played basketball at all so we’ve had to go back to basics and kind of re-learn the game.”
While many teams in the Cowgirl’s position would choose to be frustrated, this team hasn’t been deterred, dedicating themselves to a steady build toward the best version of themselves.
“These girls continue to compete and that’s been the best thing that I’ve seen,” Herrman said. “Their attitudes in practice and in games have been good and they’re always looking for what we can do to get better and work on the things we’ve struggled with.”
Despite boasting an exceptionally young and inexperienced roster, Abilene has been able to lean on one veteran all season long in Claira Dannafer, who leads the team in points (12.8), rebounds (9.3), and assists (2) per game.
“Claira is one of those players who gets in there and battles every night,” he said. “We ask a lot of her but she’s someone that we can hang our hat on every night. We know what we’re going to get out of her and she continues to come through.”
Beyond Dannafer, several younger players have stepped up to play big roles, headlined by Hannah Walter and Blair Adams, who have been nice surprises for Abilene this year.
“We have a couple of players who didn’t play at all last season that are major contributors for us now,” Herrman said. “Hannah has been charged with running our point and she’s starting to get more confidence and become more offensive-minded. Blair has been asked to do a little bit of both playing on the inside and the outside for us and she’s battled inside but she can step out and hit shots for us too.”
While all of these things have contributed to the Cowgirl's rebuild, turnovers have been the biggest thing preventing Abilene from turning those positive stretches into wins, and will be the #1 focus moving into February.
“We have to take care of the basketball,” he said. “That’s been our Achilles heel all year. We’ve been in a lot of games at the half but turnovers have really bit us. If we can take care of the ball under pressure this team is going to be successful.”
Abilene will be back in action on Friday night when the Cowgirls travel to Marysville to take on the 4-10 Lady Bulldogs.
For continuing coverage of Cowgirl hoops all season long, stay tuned to the Salina Post.