Basketball is Back By: Desiree Pratt

Basketball season is back at Hillgrove, and from the look of the Men's and Women's Basketball team we are in for a thrilling season. Many fans have had many questions regarding this upcoming season, and it has not only been about the games. Fans have been craving an inside look at how the players do what they do, and why. In the latest discussion with some of the head coaches, they share strategies and ideas for this upcoming season. Susan Milam, the head women's basketball coach, expressed her passion for basketball, but explains how the demands of the season are all-consuming. Without surprise though, she states how one day she fell in love with the sport in first grade, and it has been that way ever since. Milam has had 30 years of coaching experience which include 13 years as a head coach. She is big on game preparation and how fundamental it is towards the game. She continues to reflect on the previous season using lessons she learned with last year's team and applying it to this year. As she is not the only one, her players also are reflecting, “I would say, like staying more focused into the game, and like being more consistent with shots, and like passing and stuff and having less turnovers." Stated by Ashely Harris. Coach Milam and her team are looking forward to a great season, and many successes throughout it.

On the other hand, Christopher Lowther and Gregory Moultrie, head coaches of the Men’s basketball team, run a tight ship. With practice lasting two hours, the boys are put through extreme conditioning with a six-minute mile, weight training, and vigorous “shoot arounds.” The team finds that stretching is essential to a good and successful game. Lowther and Moultrie are also using lessons they learned from last year and applying it to this year. The coaches are big on academics coming first and emphasize the importance of the boy's performance in school. With a fan base as big as Hillgrove, the boys find themselves under pressure in a lot of circumstances, but many of the players have methods to keep their mind and mentality at bay. “It is hard to handle that. You just you got to keep a clear mind. You just got it. You have to realize it is just a game. It is not going to matter when you are 40 years old and basketball is over, and you are not playing basketball anymore. You just got to live in the moment and just try your best. That's all people can ask for." stated by Timothy Mauldin, a player on the team. Many players state that home-court advantage is not a crucial aspect of the game, “It's very important, but at the same time, we're a good enough team to win any anywhere and everywhere we go." Said by Elijah Anderson, a player on the team. The boys also claim that if they do play having an active and big crowd, iis a big motivation for all of them.

Hillgrove Basketball is back! Now, being more familiar with the work and effort that is put into this sport, you can understand why everyone loves our teams so much. You can access both teams' schedules on MaxPreps. There you will be able to keep up with the season and how your favorite players are doing.