ANDREW SALMI [email protected]
The Duck Pond at the Taylor High School gymnasium will be the site of the Taylor Tournament next weekend as the Ducks and Lady Ducks varsity basketball teams will both play Dec. 7-9 in games against visiting schools.
“It’s a great opportunity to showcase what Taylor hospitality is like,” Lady Ducks Head Coach Lawrence Bailey said. “To show that Taylor is growing and we have athletes and competitors.”
With the boys’ season under Head Coach Stephen Gibson also in full swing, the girls’ team will also get to go against some very high-quality teams that will make the trip to Taylor to compete. A few of the top teams that will be in attendance at the Taylor Tournament are Grapevine High School, Lake Belton High School, Lockhart High School and Fredericksburg High School.
“Fredericksburg is No. 5 in the state for 4A,” Bailey said. “We are excited to have them in our tournament and look forward to playing them on Saturday. We will show off our new uniforms that day as well.”
Following the Lady Ducks’ games Friday night at Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock and Tuesday at home hosting Pflugerville Weiss High School, Bailey wants to make sure that his Lady Ducks stay locked in.
“Before every game, at halftime, after the game, and during the film, we talk about controlling what we can control,” Bailey said.” It’s four things: effort, knowing and executing the plays, blocking out to rebound and making free throws at a minimum of 70 percent. We check off that list and that is a win in my book.”
No matter who the opponent is that is visiting for the Taylor Tournament, Bailey expects his girls to rise to the occasion against top-tier squads.
“We can’t control the ball going in or not on shots,” Bailey said. “Some days we are hot and some days we are cold. But if we do the other little things, we keep ourselves in a position to win any game.”
Be sure to check out Taylor Press Sports for updates on the Taylor Tournament with schedules for both the boys and girls tourney.
