By TONY EIERDAM
After playing 12 of its first 14 games on the road, the Mineral Wells Lady Rams basketball team will enjoy its third home game in its last three contests when the MWHS ladies host Venus at 6:30 p.m. today.
The Lady Rams are looking to build on their 11-5 record and are coming off a 71-46 win over Jacksboro on Friday.
In the victory, Lady Rams head coach Ed Shelstead wanted to try new offensive sets, and after a sluggish start the MWHS ladies found their rhythm as four Lady Rams finished in double figures in scoring.
“I feel we did OK with our new offenses,” Shelstead said. “I did away with some of our other offenses that were not producing as I would like, but again, we are still a work in progress.
“I think we can execute better than we did (on Friday), and defensively, we should be blocking out and rebounding a little better.”
Shelstead also mentioned that the play of his wings – Kennedy Shelstead and Niya Benavides – has improved, and he is pleased with the fast pace guards Natalie Ragland, Courtney Peña and Bethany Allen have set.
He is also pleased with the all-around play of leading scorer and rebounder Sydney Shelstead, who also on occasion brings the ball up the floor.
“Sydney and Natalie are handling the ball well,” Ed Shelstead said. “Courtney and Kennedy are really working hard, and Bethany is improving each game.”
The Rams are 7-7 and are coming off a loss to a talented Byron Nelson squad that was ranked in the Class 4A Top 10 to begin the season.
The Rams will play at 8 p.m. today at Peaster.
“We have to execute better than we did (on Friday),” Rams head coach Aaron Pappas said. “We were outplayed on Friday, but (today) we have a chance to go out and prove that we can play a lot better.”
After today, each squad will have one game remaining before taking the UIL-mandated five-day break around Christmas.
The Lady Rams will play at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Ferris, while the Rams will host Brownwood at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the MWHS gym.
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