The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

This year, the Pioneer Girls coaches are Travis Baumann, Katy Nicholson, and Ella Jurenka as a volunteer coach.

There are 14 players for Varsity and JV, 12 high school girls, and two 8th graders.

"It's going to be a surprise, Coach Travis said. "I'm excited about it, I really am. We've been looking at films and roosters from last year. They have no seniors, but five juniors, one sophomore, six freshmen, and two 8th graders. "We aren't very tall." Coach Travis is a conditioning coach, so they will be ready to run to make up the difference for their height.

When I asked him what they were working on, he said, "Everyone says fundamentals, and we are working on fundamentals, but we're really trying to teach them how to win. How to embrace winning and move forward. How to have confidence in themselves. I told them this group took 2nd in track; then, you are athletic enough to play basketball.

They'll be looking at lots of different offensive, but so far, "We've just conditioned. We are short. They'll need to read and react--understand what the defense is trying to do to us and make changes. We will harp defense! We are going to try and be successful at the full-court press."

Travis went on to say, "I'm really super excited. I believe they have a chance to turn some heads. It will be fun to watch them. I hope the community will come and watch the girls. I'm hoping they will talk about them downtown." Their goal is to be in each game!

Thomas Dilworth, Pioneer Boys Basketball coach, believes the girls will be fun to watch too. He said, "On the record, these girls will win six, maybe even more! I'm excited to watch the girls this season."

Talking about his own boys Pioneer team, he said, "It will be an exciting year, we are young, but we have a lot of experience!" He said there are 15 players; four of them are 8th graders.

Desmond Parker, a Big Sandy second grade teacher, is his assistant coach with Rhett Simanton as a volunteer coach.

"We are bigger this year because we've grown, but once you get to state, you have some taller players. They will need to prepare for that eventuality." Coach continued to say a bold statement, "If they play to their ability, I think they are the best team in the state!"

Travis Baumann, Girls Basketball Coach

This year coach Dilworth is spending more time training mental toughness. "We all know basketball is 90 % mental toughness and 10% physical skill. It hit me at a coach's training when the speaker said, "Then why do we spend 90% of our time working on physical skills and 10 % on mental toughness. This year we've been working with a program called "Winning Mindset". Taking time to empower their mental abilities They need to wrap it around their heads how great they really can be. They know they are good, but they can be special. A team that is talked about for years and years!"

He encourages them to set high goals. "CJI matches us well and Box Elder, but my humble side says yes we will have competition, by my coaches side says we should beat them."

"Our kids are smart; six players could be starters. Last year we played reserved. We won't be this year."