New Hanover girls basketball preparing for season without key senior Stanley
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — The New Hanover girls basketball team eclipsed the 20-win mark last season for the first time since 2018 and are looking to take that next big step.
Head Coach Rashad Gattison returns for his 5th season at the helm, having just guided them to a third place finish in what was the Mideastern Conference, now called the Carolina Coast.
The Wildcats are one of a few area teams that open the regular season on November 14th, the first day schools are allowed to do so.
Gattison says they are using early practices to iron out certain aspects of their game.
(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)
“We definitely want to shore up our defense,” Gattison said. “Our defense predicates our offense. A lot of points come off of fast breaks, stills. So we definitely want to make sure that we’re in tip-top shape. We also want to make sure that we’re tenacious on that defensive end. We have some pretty good players. I got a couple of good seniors that’s going to be good leaders this year. I’m excited to see what happens.”
One key member of the team from last year will be sidelined however.
Senior point guard Brianna Stanley suffered a torn ACL during a scrimmage in June. She averaged more than 14 points per game over the last two seasons.
Stanley is in good spirits as she continues to recover from the injury and is ready to contribute in any way she can.
(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)
“I will be with the team every step of the way,” Stanley said. “I’m still a member of the team, injury or not. I will be with them. I think we’re going to be coming back definitely a strong shooting team. We’re not the biggest team in the state, so we always play really fast and play really good defense. I still believe that will be a strengths. This team, they have it. I believe in them and this is the year. I believe this is the year.”
Stanley has not complete ruled out the possibility of returning this season, but adds she does intend to play college basketball.
