Silex, Mo. – The 2021-2022 season was an up-and-down one for Silex’s girls basketball squad.
The Owls were unable to string wins together for much of the first half of the season. However, they managed to right the ship toward the end of the campaign to finish with a 15-10 record, and a second-round exit in the Class 2 District 5 Tournament.
Coach Robert James believes the way his team played at the end of last season could translate into a great 2022-2023 season.
“We were playing our best ball at the end of the season last year,” he said. “That momentum and being more familiar with our style and schemes should lead to a better start and ultimately a better end.”
James said his team has worked in the offseason to get ready for an always tough Eastern Missouri Conference schedule, and thought there were a great deal of positive things he saw at the end of last season that carry over to the upcoming season.
“There are always things to improve upon but we have put an emphasis on taking care of the basketball and improving our shooting,” said James, who is in the second season of his second stint as Silex coach. “We got a lot of shots up this summer and during the training session this fall, and we are seeing the improvements already in our early practices.
“We hope that will translate over to the court in game situations.”
The Owls are a deeper squad than in past years, losing just one starter from last year’s team, and the team expects everyone to contribute.
“We return everyone except Taylor Howard from last season,” James said. “We are extremely deep and balanced throughout the program. The girls are pushing each other everyday and that competitive environment is leading to individual and team improvement in all areas.
“With that balance, it’s hard to pinpoint individual players, and I expect several players to have key contributions.”
Overall, the Owls believe they have the horses to get a few steps further than they got last year – and with more consistency.
“Our goal is to improve upon last year’s 15-10 finish,” James said. “We would like to compete for an EMO Championship and be in the running for a district title.
“I like where we are at currently, and look forward to the journey with these young ladies.”
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