Lady Tigers ready for a fight

Nick Ianniello

Mineral Independent

The St. Regis Lady Tigers are getting geared up for basketball season this year, and with their first game against Hot Springs fast approaching the young team has a lot of work to do.

"I'm pretty excited about things this year. The team morale is really good. There's no arguing," said Lady Tigers Head Coach Kevin Managhan.

The Lady Tigers have only three returning players in their 11-person team this year, and Managhan said that he has been spending a good deal of time working with the group on fundamentals and conditioning to get them ready for the grueling season ahead.

"I told them up front that basketball's a running, contact sport and you have to be in shape. All this running isn't because I like to be a jerk and make you run it's because you've got to be in tip top shape to play basketball," Managhan said.

The Lady Tigers were 8 - 12 last year in conference play. It was a tough-fought record with a small team of only six girls.

The Lady Tigers finished out games with as little as three players on the court in more than one game last year with one team member injured and others fouling out as the game progressed.

This year the team's biggest challenge will not be fielding a full five players but ensuring that the five players on the court are ready for the rigors of varsity basketball.

"We have quite a few inexperienced players but they're catching on quick and I think by the end of the season we're going to definitely be competitive," Managhan said.

The Lady Tigers are running grueling practices heavy on conditioning and fundamentals, helping the girls that are newer to the sport pick up passing and defense skills that they can hopefully build upon as the season progresses.

Managhan said that a few of the team members have started out the season feeling sick, but hopefully with the team returning from a break for Thanksgiving they should feel up to some more vigorous practices and be ready to bring their a-game when it is time to play.

The Lady Tigers first game will be against the Hot Springs Lady Red Devils on Dec. 9 and they will host the Tiger Tail Tournament on Dec. 13.

"If I can keep them focused and having a good time playing the sport then I think we'll be in good shape," said Managhan.