Speer’s Girls Basketball

The Girls Basketball teams enter each season and every game with determination, heart, and energy that only a young, motivated group can bring. With that being said, I wanted to highlight the actual dynamic and give more insight on the team on and off the courts. The team is built on leadership by senior players and their dedicated coach. 

For Roshaunda “Juice” Wilson, a senior playing her final year, the goal for her is “To win another championship and enjoy playing my last year with my teammates and coach.” Her favorite memory goes back to freshman year when she started varsity for the first time, which ultimately set the foundation for the player and leader she would grow into. Now you may think how was she a freshman starting varsity, well started basketball when her father bought her a basketball rim when she was young, and after he passed, she kept playing as a way to still feel connected and close to him, which also plays a part into how motivated and dedicated she is to the sport but also how she leads the team. Being a senior, she’s been through a lot with the team, I asked her what her hardest challenges have been to overcome. “One person being into it with another teammate, and I’m trying to mediate but they’re both being stubborn.” Juice also shared her perspective on the difference between high school basketball and middle school basketball, for those who are looking forward to playing high school basketball. Here’s what she had to say: “It’s more competitive than elementary school. It’s more practice and more working as a team and creating bonds, you have to be on your A game. Make sure you stay on top of your work; you’re a student-athlete not an athlete-student.” Lastly I asked her how she would describe the team in one word, she chose collaborative. 

Next I would like to highlight Coach Jefferson and how she brings experience and a life long love for basketball to Speer and the girls basketball team. Coaching became a part of her next step after playing in college. “I’m able to still be a part of the game. I enjoy developing players and seeing their progress. I also enjoy the mentorship part, building meaningful, trusting relationships and having talks about everything under the sun and basketball.” Her view of the team’s dynamic reflects on being young and having potential. “We’re young. I have two solid seniors and the rest are sophomores. I feel that I have a lot to teach them and to work on, but we’re very talented. I’m looking forward to next year, there’s a lot of raw talent on the team.” What’s the biggest challenge this season? “Experience. With only two seniors and a handful of tenth graders, the team is still finding its rhythm. There’s a large gap, I’m missing a solid eleventh grader and what they would bring to complete my team.” She also reflected on her biggest challenge across her 10 years of coaching: returning after the pandemic. “I realized I was coaching a different style of kids and had to make adjustments as a coach.” So far the girls haven’t been doing the best this season, so I asked when tough games or losing streaks are happening how does she motivate the players. “I try to stay positive. With every loss comes a lesson, and I try to focus on that part. This is just the beginning of the season; everything is new. The more we work, the more they’ll get used to it and develop skills to remind them to keep showing up, keep working. It is a process and still early in the season.” If she had to summarize the team in one phrase she would describe them as “talented but young.” 

Between Roshaunda’s leadership and coach Jefferson’s experience, the girls basketball team isn’t just playing the game they’re growing through it. With collaboration and the raw talent ready to develop, this season is more than a competition. It’s the foundation of the team’s future.