Playing hard, senior leadership cited as reasons for HVA girls hoop success
Without a loss to begin this week — 8-0 overall — Hardin Valley Academy’s girls’ basketball head coach Jennifer Galloway said she has much to be pleased about.
“We’ve started off well,” said Galloway, whose team is bouncing back after struggling for much of the 2020-21 season. “Our team chemistry is good right now.
“We’ve spent the first part of the season making sure we get all our sets and different defenses in,” she added. “Now we’re trying to fine-tune all of that.”
Galloway also likes her girls’ effort in practice.
“I think that’s translating over to the ballgames,” she said. “I think a lot of that (being undefeated) has to do with the fact that we’re playing extremely hard.”
While a number of younger HVA players have stepped up, Galloway also said she is pleased with the leadership of senior guards Faith Johnson and Avery Laugherty.
One area of concern is rebounding.
“Sometimes we’re just watching. It’s something we can improve on,” said Galloway, who in her 14th season with the Lady Hawks is the only varsity head coach in program history.
Lenoir City Classic
Up next for Galloway and her team is a trip to Lenoir City High School for Lenoir City Christmas Tournament.
Having opened tourney play versus the host LCHS Lady Panthers Tuesday morning, Dec. 28 (after deadline), then playing a team from Lafayette, Kentucky, Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 29 (also after deadline), Hardin Valley then faces Knoxville Carter beginning at noon, Thursday Dec. 30.
