Hereford Girls Basketball 8-0 to Start Season

The last two seasons have provided difficult endings for the Hereford girls basketball team. The Bulls have reached the MPSSAA 2A North regional final both seasons, only to come up short and just miss out on a trip the the state semifinals both times.

"Losing two regional finals is a motivator, especially since we were so close last season in that final game," head coach Ellen Fitzkee said. "We have three players on this squad who are chomping at the bit having experienced the taste of being within reach two years in a row of making the state playoffs."

If the Bulls keep playing the way they've been playing, this may be their year to take they finally take that next step. Hereford hasn't lost a game yet, starting the year with a fantastic 8-0 mark.

For Fitzkee, the start is slightly surprising. The Bulls' roster is comprised mostly of players who play other sports during the fall season, meaning it usually takes a little while longer for Hereford to gel on the court as a team. That hasn't been the case this season though, as Hereford has been able to employ their pressure style of basketball in every game they've played.

"I credit our team chemistry and the leadership of our seniors for getting out of the blocks quickly," Fitzkee said.

One of those senior leaders has been point guard Cori Beck. A three year starter, Beck has been excelling in all facets of the game- assists, defense and scoring. She also takes it upon herself to direct her teammates while on the court.

Another senior who has been playing at a high level is Christy Ivey. Ivey has been providing the Bulls with a strong inside presence, getting the team points in the paint and hauling in important rebounds too.

Junior Emma Reider has also had a standout season thus far. Reider's defense in particular has been excellent, bringing a lot of energy to the team's cause and wreaking havoc for opponents' offenses. She's also been an asset at the other end of the floor, too.

While the Bulls do have a few standouts, Hereford's fast start can be attributed to the entire team's dedication to getting better. Hereford's main goal this season is for each player to improve a little bit every day. That philosophy about basketball has Fitzkee enjoying her team's approach as much as she is enjoying their success.

"The girls play hard with grit and determination. They don't care who gets the credit as long as we get the job done," Fitzkee said. "It's an honor to coach them."