As the Panthers’ season has gotten underway, there is excitement in the air. Coach Andrew Cross is implementing mental toughness into his players this year with the end goal being a District Championship.
With only two returning seniors – Aniah Cross and Asia Martin – who were on varsity last year, they are having to step up and become leaders on this young varsity squad. According to coach Cross, both seniors have stepped into these leadership roles and led by example in games and practices.
“They’re my two best scorers,” coach Cross said. “Two of my best two defenders. So they have a goal. They’ve been on the team when we made the playoffs. And then last year for them to not make the playoffs, it really stung. They come out. They talk in practice. They tell everybody what the goal is, what we’re trying to accomplish. And they just work hard. It’s been a blessing to have both of them.”
Throughout this season, coach Cross is trying to implement an attitude and identity in this team that the girls play hard even when the games are out of reach.
This aspect was apparent during their game against Friendswood. Even how when Friendswood stretched their lead, Cross’s players were still running down the court and trying to save balls as they were going out of bounds.
“That was one of my goals…just trying to build that mental toughness,” coach Cross said. “Trying to get them to commit to that is not always easy. Especially when, like you said, when the game is out of hand, and they may start asking, why are we still playing?
“If the game is out of reach you have to have an identity of playing as hard as you possibly can until the game is over. And I have some girls who do that, and everybody else just kind of follows when you have that leadership by example. So it’s not necessarily me, but it’s them. So, I can preach it all the time, but you have to have kids that buy into it and actually want to do it.”
Having this attitude is a key factor for the team this season. Aniah Cross, who shows this identity by the way she plays, said she has realized the games are bigger than herself. It’s the team’s success that she plays for.
“Honestly, it really is just keeping a positive mindset throughout the game,” Aniah Cross said. “Knowing that you’re not only playing for yourself but you’re playing for your teammates too. So you can’t always get down on yourself because you have people counting on you.”
That positive mindset has already proven key in the team’s preseason when the Panthers went 10-4. They opened district play Dec. 13.
“I think that we just need to stay positive,” Aniah Cross said. “Even when refs, and teams, and the games aren’t going our way, if we’re just staying positive, and motivating each other, then we can beat any team.”
