After an up and down 2024 season, the Stone Memorial Lady Panthers basketball is turning the page, and turning up the defensive pressure.
Head Coach Mike Buck said the program is undergoing a philosophical shift this off-season, with a renewed focus on defense as the foundation of their identity.
“The kids are really picking up on it and doing a solid job with it,” Buck said. “It’s all brand new for them too, but the biggest thing is terminology. We’re trying to get to where they don’t think, they just react out there.”
Stone Memorial finished last season 8-21 overall and 2-8 in district play. Competing in Class 3A, District 7, the Lady Panthers faced a slate last season that included teams contending deep into the postseason.
Despite the youth of the team last season, Stone Memorial ranked among the top defensive teams in the district in turnovers forced per game. Buck said he saw flashes of the aggressive style he hopes to perfect this season.
“This team has got a lot of energy, a lot of kids who can compete and play fast,” Buck said. “As a high school coach, you’re dealt the hand that you’re dealt year in and year out and the fact all these kids can really fly around out there and have pretty good instincts with their rotation and what happens next. We’re really playing to their strengths.”
The Lady Panthers return one senior, with the other Lady Panthers mostly sophomores and juniors. Buck said his youth will be balanced by enthusiasm and adaptability.
“As a high school coach, you got to figure out who you’ve got year in and year out and try to put those kids in a situation where they can be the most successful in,” Buck said.
Alongside his assistant coaches, Buck said he has been studying combinations and rotations that maximize the team’s speed and defensive instinct. Buck also said he worked out communication, footwork, and and quick decision making over the off-season, all of which showed promising results.
