In sports, sometimes the first win is the most difficult.
That seems to be true for the Winder-Barrow High School Lady Bulldoggs in 2012-2013. After beginning the season 0-11, WBHS has won three of its last four games and hopes to continue that winning momentum throughout the season’s second half.
For coach Brandon Thomas, who entered the season with a young and inexperienced roster, the wins have been great for his players’ confidence level.
“Getting that first win helped break the ice,” Thomas said Sunday. “During our holiday tournament, we faced some teams we were able to compete against. Our players are serious about trying to be better. They want to improve and have a desire to play hard. I think we’ve also built more depth now.”
The Lady Bulldoggs were on a two-game winning streak entering this week. WBHS defeated Monroe Area 47-35 Saturday after notching a 47-29 win against Walnut Grove the previous night.
In Friday’s win, Adrianna Davis had a monster performance with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Shea Mayweather added eight points and seven boards. Taliyah Moffett also had an impact inside with 13 rebounds.
Another positive sign for Thomas was the fact his team almost reached 50 points in the games Friday and Saturday.
At times this season, points have been hard to come by for the Lady Bulldoggs.
“We lost to Monroe Area earlier in the season and the girls were determined to do better in the rematch,” Thomas said. “There will be some games as we move on where we don’t score as many points, but right now we are making more of our attempts.”
Another goal for the team is to compete better against region foes in the second meeting.
“Basketball is a long season,” Thomas said. “We always look at the two halves. We want to enjoy playing, keep getting better and keep the momentum going.”
As Thomas continues to build the program, he noted this year’s junior varsity squad has already posted eight wins, an increase from last season’s total of six. The year before the JV won two games.
WBHS will travel to Loganville Friday for a Region 8-AAAAA contest. The team will then host Salem Tuesday in another region showdown. Friday’s game begins at 7 p.m. with Tuesday’s starting at 6 p.m.
