Searcy, AR (LP) — With football finishing off their season with a huge win, making them Arkansas State Champions in the 6A division, both the girls and boys basketball teams have hit the courts since then and are ready to show the town what they’ve got.

Both teams have spent many hours hard at work, improving their basketball skills for their past and upcoming games. 

“We practice six days a week for at least two to three hours,” explains Meredith Webber, a junior on the girls basketball team. “We work on shooting, developing plays, defense, and ball movement, hopefully carrying the determination we have  on the court in practice and out into our games.”

Just like the girls, Freddy Hicks, senior on the boys basketball team, states similar ways on how his team has prepped for their games. “All offseason long, the team has been doing drills and things like that to get ready for the upcoming season. Along with the team, I practice every day and try to get shots up all the time. I think the team can improve on turnovers, and I personally can improve on my ball handling.”

For all basketball teams, it is important to know what team you are going up against and how to have the right mindset for that particular game. Planning ahead of time and knowing their competition can give teams a better shot at winning

“Our biggest competition will be honestly anyone in our conference. We are in the hardest girls conference in the states, so every game will be a battle for us,” states Webber.

Most everyone knows for a team to work, everyone must cooperate and work together. While it is especially important on the court, it is just as equally important to carry this outside of the gym.

“I would say I am very close with almost all of my teammates,” explains Webber. “I have been really blessed this year with who’s on this team and some of them I would consider some of my best friends.” 

So far, each of Searcy’s basketball teams have really shown their skills, hard work, and determination on the court. While the girls may not have won as many as they would like to have, Webber says they are showing growth.

“So far our games have been going well. We lost some that we should have won, but we are constantly looking to how we can fix those mistakes daily,” states Hicks. I hope to make it to the post season and once we do that, I want to win the state tournament!”

With both teams heads held high, these players hope to finish the next two months of basketball out on a great note.