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I think the number one thing that you want as
a coach is just competitiveness, willing
to just go after it every single possession, every
play, every game, every practice.
From the height, speed, athleticism, be able to
read the game.
We have a lot of those pieces of the puzzle and
that's why we were so successful last year.
The big thing that we have improved from last year
this year is just that awareness, awareness of
each other, awareness of the courts and the
basketball IQ is what we're really working on
growing.
We have Abby and the others are here, here --
Welcome, Pocahontas area and Nevada to the 2015
Class 3A State Championship!
Claire Ausman: I think the goal last year was just to
make it to state.
We were just a regular 3A team that was good.
With Ausman, open for 3.
Got it!
Ausman: And then we just kept on winning.
It was amazing.
It was unbelievable.
Kati Cassabaum: Once the game started it just felt
like a normal basketball game, kind of like you
didn't really pay attention to the crowd or
like the huge arena or anything.
Lexy Koudelka: I think all of us being together as a
team and talking about the games and what's coming
up.
It really helped everything.
Ausman: It's the best experience.
I still can't believe it happened.
I want to do it again.
Our 2015 Class 3A State Champion, the Cubs from
Nevada and coach Kristin Meyer.
Michelle Cassabaum: Yeah, we talk at home about
going to state is not a normal occurrence.
But our kids think that's normal, that's what you
do.
It's not a good season if you didn't make it to
state.
And now it's not a good season if you don't win
state.
So these girls are learning a lesson that you
do have to set your goals high and with hard work I
think you can get there.
They're showing us you can.
Sea Fey: It takes a lot of dedication and a lot of
commitment and a lot of hard work to get to the
places where they've gone throughout every single
sport.
Nevada has done it.
They are your Class 3A State Champions in
volleyball for the first time ever!
Joel Fey: There's two banners hanging up in
there from this year alone for volleyball and
basketball and there's a lot of trophies from a lot
of things.
And they don't understand that now, they think
that's the norm.
They think this is what you do when you're in high
school.
They will get that someday.
It will be a while and they'll understand how
special that is.
We're very lucky to be a part of it.
To be honest, they're all friends but I don't think
any of our players are best friends, which
actually helps out.
They can say something to each other and not have it
taken off the court because they're such
competitors and they just want to win, which then
you can see in our play.
Our unselfish style offensively, they just
want to find the best shot for our team.
Ausman: I think we all get along pretty well and the
team chemistry is nice so we really gel.
Abby Stephenson: We have a great time at practices
and just before games and on the bus rides and
everything and just lots of the times we're
laughing.
So that's a lot of fun to be a part of.
If you don't get along with your teammates then
you really have no chance at it.
But we all get along, we all know our roles and we
all do what we're supposed to do.
We really want to be known as a defensive team.
Point wise, we don't care who scores.
Some games it's a post that has the most points,
sometimes it's a guard.
And then defensively we want to hold people under
30 points, under 25.
We can hold them under 20, that's the goal.
Koudelka: I think the all-around effect, none of
us are good at one thing.
We're all good at multiple things.
I think that really helps.
That's part of the reason that we can be successful
that both end of the court it's hard to stop us.
♪♪
I think hard work is obviously just a big
one too.
I think we're a really hard working team, that
way we come to practices, we come to get better
every single day.
And so that has really proved itself.
Who is the best rebounder out of these two?
Lexy.
So what should you do?
Pinch down.
Joel Fey: They really take care of each other.
Practices sometimes they get after it a little bit
but you'll never see that on the floor.
They make each other better and I think that is
one of the goals that all of them have.
♪♪
I've been playing basketball since I was so
little and especially with these girls for the last
few years.
So the last court, the last game whether it's a
win or a loss, it'll be really hard walking off
the court for the last time and knowing that
that's the last time you're going to compete in
something that you love so much.
I just don't want the season to end.
Team sports are so much fun.
You only get a few years and that chance goes
really quickly.
One of the reasons that I'm a teacher, I love
seeing the progression in athletes.
When they make that great pass to a teammate for the
assist you just see their face light up.
When we beat Benton last year to make it to state
for the first time in 5-on-5 history for Nevada,
just being able to sit there and just watch the
girls and be so excited and so proud of our team,
it's something that is priceless and those are
the memories that last forever.