By Joseph Krum
Managing Editor
@joseph_krum
After an 8-22 season last year and a new coach on the way, expectations for the Coppell Cowgirls basketball team were unknown.
Yet so far, led by new coach Kristen Davis, the Cowgirls won three of their first four games including a dominating 69-31 win against Sam Houston High School.
“We are off to a great start,” coach Kristen Davis said via email on Dec. 5. “Our overall record is currently 9-4, we’ve brought home a second place tournament trophy already, and are in the winner’s bracket today. Each week we get better and we play hard; it all bodes well for upcoming district play.”
The second place trophy was in the Grand Prairie tournament where the Cowgirls defeated Sam Houston, Grand Prairie and Life Oak Cliff. During the tournament, the Cowgirls averaged 51 points per game while only giving up an average of 35.
Last season, the Cowgirls averaged 41 points per game and ended the season on a 10 game losing streak.
Yet junior center Chidera Nwaiwu thinks this season is completely different than last and not just because of their record.
“As a whole, it’s been way better than the past two seasons just because of the new coaches, new environment and everyone is involved,” Nwaiwu said. “We might not have the best talent, but team-wise we have great team chemistry.”
And what a weapon team chemistry can be. In a game this year, Davis remembers a specific game this year where the team had a connection like no other.
“In the Kennedale Tournament on Thursday night, our game against El Paso Chapin (a 55-38 win in the first round of the tournament) stands out as our best game this season,” Davis said via email. “We played consistently for all four quarters: phenomenal team defense and team offense. There was an undeniable chemistry throughout the entire game, and a pure demonstration of what this team is truly capable of.”
Nwaiwu can also remember a game so far that has defined how the season has gone so far for the Cowgirls.
“In the Grand Prairie Tournament the game against Life Oak Cliff was a big win,” Nwaiwu said. “It was in the semifinals, and we were down pretty much the whole game. And then all of a sudden we started to pick it up and came back. Everyone got involved from the crowd to the bench and it was my favorite game so far.”
This season, the scoring has mostly been led by senior guard Kaeli Stayer. Stayer averages 12 point per game and has been in the top three scorers in all nine of the recorded games by The Dallas Morning News.
Even with the exceptional play of some individuals, Davis does not like to give one person credit.
“We stress being a team each and every day, and each girl knows that she has a role to play,” Davis said via email. “One game that role may be scoring 20 points, and the next day it’s four points but fantastic defense. Every kid has stepped up, improved, and is giving 100 percent every day for team success.”
After a quick start to a season, one can only look forward into the future ahead and wonder what could be of the rest of the season. As for Davis and the team, the goal is simple.
“The team has set the standard for the year: the girls decided they would accept nothing less than an above .500 overall record and a playoff spot,” Davis said in an email. “We are on the right track to making both of those goals a reality.”
This season for the Cowgirls has already been a huge step up from last year. The team has won more games than all of last season. But in the eyes of Nwaiwu, the goals of the team aren’t just to win.
“Our first goal is simply to make the playoffs,” Nwaiwu said. “After playoffs, we want to create a basketball program that people strive to be in and want to play in.”
