JARED HILL
Special to The Leader
Last Thursday Fredonia’s women’s basketball team began practicing for the first time this semester as they prepare for the oncoming season.
“I am looking forward to getting started with my team,” said Head Coach Linda Hill-MacDonald. “We have a number of new faces in the lineup [this season]. Our primary goals are to improve over last year and get to the SUNYAC Championships this season.”
Hill-MacDonald has set the bar high for her team this year, and its goal certainly won’t be an easy one to achieve. Last season, the Blue Devils finished with an overall 9-15 record and 4-7 at home. Compare that with the overall record of last year’s SUNYAC champs, Oswego, who had a record of 25-4 and add a 19-game winning streak going into the season. The odds are stacked against Fredonia.
The Blue Devils, however, are confident that this season can be a successful one, so long as they focus and remain vigilant about improvements.
“Communication, teamwork, determination and dedication,” said senior Sabrina Macaulay, who believes these are the qualities her team needs to win.
Last year, Macaulay averaged 12.4 PPG over six RPG as well. She was also third Team All-Conference last season and is looking forward to leading the Blue Devils as a captain this year.
“Being on a team is being a part of another family,” said Macaulay. “That is what dedication will do to you if you let it and that’s where you should want to be.”
The leadership qualities are there, but work still remains to be done.
Hill-MacDonald has already got ball rolling, keying in on defense and fundamentals of the game.
“We will be focusing on tuning up our fundamental skills as we begin the season, and then our focus will be on developing an effective offense and developing a strong defensive mentality,” she said.
Fundamentals are certainly important when it comes to winning games on a consistent basis. Last year Fredonia could not carry a win streak past one game. This may have been caused by ignoring fundamental play. The Blue Devils last year averaged almost 19 turnovers per game, averaging two more turnovers per game than opposing teams. Ball movement will also be a major factor, as the Blue Devils averaged only 13.3 APG last year, an assist to turnover ratio that could be improved on.
One of the people who shoulders that workload is senior Alexis Cheatham. She led the team in assists last year, and is currently 11th on Fredonia’s all-time assists list.
“I think in order for us to win we must be unselfish, focus on the game plan and play great defense,” said Cheatham. “We have one goal in mind and that’s winning SUNYACS.”
As practices begin, the team will learn to run together as a brand new squad. It’s important for MacDonald that this team develop quickly.
“One of the most important aspects of having a good season is to develop strong team chemistry,” said Hill-MacDonald. “Having talent is important, but without team chemistry, talent isn’t enough!”
The talent is there. The drive and optimism is there. Now is the time for this team to find its identity. Will the Blue Devils remain in the middle of the pack in the SUNYAC conference, or will this be the season where they find their rhythm and go the distance?