The Anton Lady Dogs’ varsity basketball team is 8-11 overall, 2-2 in district play under Head Coach Tami Wilson, who is into her first year at the helm in Anton.
Prior to joining the Anton Coaching staff, Wilson spent the last 10 years at Seagraves. She has also spent one year at Anton, two years at Texas Tech University and had a three-year stint at Seagraves.
She is assisted by Reed Myers, who has been with the Anton Program for four years helping with both the boys and girls’ programs.
The Lady Dogs lost in the first round of the play-offs to the Happy Cowgirls, under previous Head Coach Brittany Huddleston.
The Lady Dogs have two seniors in guard, Shaylyn Thomas, and forward, Cienna Castillo, and four juniors in guards, Bridget Thomas and Andie Alonzo-Rivera; forward, Aracely Champion and center Takyra Goree.
Coach Wilson’s starting five includes, Castillo, Hoover, Bridget Thomas, Goree and Alonzo-Rivera, while Shaylyn Thomas, Champion and Carlisle are the first ones off of the bench.
“Castillo is a good rebounder for us, while Hoover is our quarterback on the floor and Bridget Thomas is a solid defender,” Coach Wilson said. “Goree loves to post up and Alonzo-Rivera is our best shooter.”
She added, “Champion is a shooter, while Shaylyn Thomas is a scrappy defender and Carlisle is a rebounder for us.
They also have sophomore Alexis Hoover, and freshmen guards, Isabella Juarez and Jessica Rodriguez, and freshmen forwards, Aspyn Cooper, Sarah Carlisle and Addy Cooper.
“Aspyn Cooper is fearless and will guard anyone, while Addy Cooper gives us another shooter. Five freshmen equals learning and growing, but gives quality minutes.”
Coach Wilson talked about how the team is buying into her system, saying, “The girls are learning a new program and they are starting to trust it. The girls are being coachable and want to win.”
The Coach said that Takyra Goree is her “Big” girl and is a leader on and off of the court.
“Alexis Hoover is learning to quarterback the team and is vocal,” she said. “Bridget is our best defender and works super hard. The team follows her lead.”
Coach Wilson discussed what she feels their strengths are to this point in the season, saying, “Our speed and athleticism keep us in games. We are a young and inexperienced team, but we are figuring the game out.”
She added, “Some things we need to work on are defense and communication. We stress it everyday and it is coming.”
The Coach talked about their season to this point, saying, “We are improving by the day. We are building chemistry and learning to trust one another on the court.”
Coach Wilson gave her outlook on the district, saying, “It a tough schedule.”
“Kress and Springlake-Earth are strong and deep and all of the other teams play hard and are getting better and better,” she said.”
The Lady Dogs remaining schedule is as follows:
Friday, Jan. 14 th at Lazbuddie; Tuesday, Jan. 18 th home against Hart; Tuesday, Jan. 25 th at Kress; Friday, Jan. 28 th at Amherst; Tuesday, Feb. 1 st at Springlake-Earth and Tuesday, Feb. 8 th home against Lazbuddie.