Lady Lions injury free, looking ahead

By Michael Kinney
The Moore American

MOORE January 31, 2007 10:26 am

— Coach Darla Gilmore wants to see one thing out of her team the last couple of weeks in the season. One ingredient that can put a shine on what has been a difficult season to date for the Moore High girls basketball team.
“The season has been up and down,” Gilmore said. “We haven’t had a lot of consistency. We have come out and played well at times. Then the next game come out flat. We’ve had a hard time maintaining consistency.”
The Lions (3-8) lack of constancy was seen again over the weekend during the John Nobles Classic. MHS lost to Muskogee in the opening round 61-50 and then fell 44-29 to Broken Arrow. However, they ended the tourney with a 50-28 victory over Western Heights.
Despite the sparadic showing, just getting back on the court will improve the Lions, according to Gilmore.
“Having the games right in a row and getting back on a routine like before the weather, just getting some games in will help,” Gilmore said. “And getting back into a flow of things I feel like we will play better. We do have everybody back now. Jazmine Small has returned. She got back last week. I have everybody healthy.”
With the squad injury free for the first time in quite a while, the MHS coaching staff is looking for a few players to step up their game in the waning weeks.
“I feel like my senior post Tara Fleming has struggled here and there, but she has been our most constant,” Gilmore said. “We will have games where she will come out flat. But for the most part she has been our most consistent.”
Gilmore also likes what she has been getting from Susan Ricky, who has not missed a practice this year. She has provided the work ethic that Gilmore hopes the rest of the squad can adopt.
With a strong diligence to working hard, the inconsistent play could come to an end.
“We have had kids that our sick and hurt,” Gilmore said. “Been struggling a lot. But we had the big win against Edmond Memorial. Then played first round game in Ada Tournament and lost by five. It wasn’t our best effort.”