Lady Tigers find winning formula

Coach Cherry Downs gives instruction to Abby Darden, the Lady Tigers point guard. With the team playing well, here are a few of Coach Downs' thoughts on her players: ABBY DARDEN -- Abby is a great ball handler. Without her our offense would be much weaker. ALYSHA BARTON -- Alysha is doing a great job of shooting from the outside. She usually has at least one 3 a game. SHUNACEE STEWART -- Shunacee is playing well all around; she is the main pressure person on our press. LAUREN WORL -- Lauren has really improved as the season progressed and is working on being tougher and taking shot opportunities.

New head coach Cherry Downs may not have had the luxury of game film and complete stats on her team, but she did inherit a group of girls with more talent than their record indicated.

"I did not know much when the season started, but after the first few days of practice I knew that we definitely had the potential to have a winning season," said Downs, whose team has an impressive 7-3 record in district play.

With four more district games, the Lady Tigers are definitely in the hunt for a playoff spot; in contrast, last year's squad fell out of contention early and ended the season with a string of losses.

"We have worked very hard in practice to work on the skills we were weak at," said Downs. "We also played some tougher teams in preseason. Several of the schools we have played are 3A."

On the horizon are match-ups with Tatum and Garrison, both district rivals with a win over Troup.

"I feel like we could have won both of those games," said Downs. I think Tatum can be mentally intimidating because they were 3A last year.

"We will be ready to beat both of them this round of district."

Downs attributes her team's success to ball control and rebounding, something that was an early concern because of the team's lack of height.

"We have really worked on block-out drills during the season to help that situation," said Downs. "We have practiced, and I harp on playing tough when it comes to rebounding because it's all about who wants the ball more."

And who wants to win more, which is something else that the Lady Tigers have going for them, said Downs.

"I would have to say that all the overtime games we have played have proven that we are a team that will play 'til the end," she said. "We have played in four overtime games and won three of them. These girls play with everything they have.