The Monterey Lady Wildcats are preparing for the 2021-2022 basketball season with a new coach and culture.
First-year head coach Michelle Farley-Carson said her team is learning new habits after years of struggling to earn wins.
“We’ve made a lot of improvement,” said Farley-Carson. “They’re trying to learn our coaching style and we’re trying to learn how they play. We’ve seen a lot of improvements overall in their self-confidence. We don’t seem as discouraged or defeated as we come out. That’s something we’re going to continue to work on, but we’ve seen a lot of growth.”
Farley-Carson said a main point of emphasis has been learning how to play with each other and practicing the right way.
“That’s something you have to do on any team you coach,” said Farley-Carson. “Overall, to be a successful team you have to trust everybody on the team. That’s something we try to tell them every day when they show up to practice. How you act and play in practice is going to transfer to how you play in games.”
The Lady Wildcats won four games in the 2020-2021 season, but with some returning players and a new culture, there are reasons for optimism.
“We have Lindsey Wright returning. She’s a junior who has played a big role for the Lady Wildcats the last couple of years,” said Farley-Carson. “We’ve got Adaline Clouse. She’s a senior post who helps us a lot down low. We’ve got Abby Sasser… she helps us a lot down low.”
In addition the Lady Wildcats will get contributions from Kaydence Hopkins, Jourdyn Walker and Beyonce Johnson among others.
Farley-Carson said she will gauge her squad’s success this season based on several factors, including if they continue to buy in to the new culture.
“We see our success as changing the culture of the program and making it better than when we took it over,” said Farley-Carson. “As long as they come and give 102% and they try and are willing to learn, then I’m going to be happy with the effort.”
The Lady Wildcats will tip off the season Thursday night when they travel to take on Wartburg.