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BASTROP — The Bastrop Bears girls varsity basketball team has turned a corner this season, racing to a 20-2 record and dominating competition.
This marks a stark contrast to last year’s 7-15 start, signaling a complete turnaround under second-year Head Coach La Barbera Roberson.
A commitment towards a new culture has led the transformation, according to Roberson.
“I have seen more dedication. The girls are buying into what we are trying to teach here at Bastrop, and we are working on changing the culture,” Roberson said. “I am beginning to notice that as we change goals, they are starting to believe in the process.”
Last year, Bastrop struggled defensively, allowing 52.4 points per game. The Bears have drastically reduced that number, giving up just 34.5 this season. Roberson credits this shift to a new defensive strategy inspired by a coaching clinic she attended at the University of Texas under Head Coach Vic Schaefer.
“I went to one of his clinics, and he was teaching his defense. That’s the defense I’ve been trying to teach the girls, and they’re starting to understand it,” Roberson added. “At first, it was difficult because everybody was used to the defensive slide. Now, we run more of a UT defense, where we set and force the other team to turn.”
Offensively, the Bears have also made significant strides. Roberson focused heavily on shooting, instituting a “good morning shooting” drill where players shoot for an hour before practice each day.
“Last year, when I came in, this team didn’t feel comfortable shooting. The first thing I told them was to shoot. We can’t win if we can’t shoot,” the head coach said.
The Bears will look to extend their strong start as they head into the next phase of the season, traveling to face Richards School for Young Women Leaders Dec. 10 before returning home for Cedar Creek Dec. 13, at 6:30 p.m.
