The Floyd Central Girls’ Basketball team is almost done with their season. They have a record of 18-3, with one game left before sectionals. Last year, the team welcomed a new head coach, Jerry Hickey. The team is more adapted to Coach Hickey’s style this year, which Hickey thinks has helped the success of the season.
“I think we’re definitely further along as far as knowing how we do things, system wise, and what our plays are. And we’re more comfortable with one another than we were last year,” said Hickey.
The girls also feel more comfortable with Hickey’s program and their roles.
“Having another year with Coach Hickey helps because we fully understand the way he wants us to play and we can just tweak some things rather than learn a whole new offense or defense,” said Senior Elise Coleman.
The season started a little slow for the girls with a loss to Charlestown and Jeffersonville, but since then, they’ve turned the season around, beating good teams like Evansville Reitz, McCutcheon, Borden, and Jennings County. A reason for the turn around of the season could be getting the volleyball players on the team back into basketball shape.
“I think anytime you’re working volleyball kids back in, it makes it a tougher transition. But we were sitting at a record of 3-2 heading to our game against Evansville Reitz, and thinking we could drop to 500. And we haven’t lost since,” said Hickey.
The girls have been playing better together and coming closer with their teammates, which helped turn their season around.
“I think the girls just started to gel a little bit more and we started playing together a little bit more,” said Hickey.
Last year, the team lost seniors that had a big role in the team. The seniors this year have had to fill those roles and it has brought everyone closer together.
“I feel much closer with my teammates, especially being a senior. I think all of us have really gotten closer. The seniors and I have had to learn how to lead so it’s brought us closer,” said Coleman.
The team has won 14 games in a row, as of January 21st, and are now playing at a higher level.
“We got off to a slow start, but we’ve been playing better. I feel like we worked some kinks out early and we just have to keep playing at that high level,” said Hickey.
The girls and Hickey have developed trust in each other and have been able to rely on each other to get the job done.
“He believes in us and truly wants us to succeed. He wants our opinions in-game and at practice which says a lot about the trust he has in us. He gets on us but it’s because he has high expectations and knows what we can accomplish as a team,” said Coleman.
Hickey and the girls have big goals for the season. Last year, the team won sectionals for the first time in 15 years. This year, the team has even bigger goals.
“It’s hard to not say that the goal is a state championship because that’s what we want. We will start with conference and sectionals, but to say that we just want to win sectionals isn’t true; we want more than that. I think we came out short last year. And so coming back, our slogan for the season would be unfinished business,” said Hickey.
The girls also have similar goals for this season.
“Winning state is always the goal but making it past regionals would be huge because we lost last year,” said Coleman
This could be a historical season for the girls. The farthest a girls team at Floyd Central has made it is Semi-State. Last year was a good season with the girls winning sectionals for the first time since 2010, but the team lost in regionals. The goal for the team this year is to reach Semi-State and beyond. Make sure to follow along with the girls’ season and support them as they chase a State title. The girls play the first round of the sectionals versus Jeffersonville today, Feb. 3. The game will be hosted at New Albany.
