Every morning before the halls are filled with students, the Lady ‘Dawgs basketball team fills the gym with intensity and work ethic, in order to become the best possible version of themselves. Coach Iesha Collins turned to the Bowie boys golf team in an attempt to push the girls to their limits, using them as a scout team. Junior forward Grace Guzman has been a starter on the Lady ‘Dawgs team throughout the whole season. She has been able to see several different scout teams throughout her three year tenure as a member of the varsity Lady ‘Dawgs basketball team.
“It definitely is helpful having scout teams,” Guzman said. “You get to play a team that is taller and faster than we are which makes us play harder and makes us more physical and tough for sure. I think the biggest advantage is just being able to run our plays against a team that doesn’t already know them. When we scrimmage our own team, it is easier for players to jump the play and get a steal which is not always realistic to game situations.”
Along with the Bowie boys golf team, the Lady ‘Dawgs have also been able to compete against the freshman boys basketball team, as well as the boys basketball managers dating back to last year.
“I like that Collins keeps giving us new scouts,” Guzman said. “I think it is mostly very helpful, the only downside would probably just be an increased injury risk. When you play guys who are a lot taller and stronger, but less skillful, you get some reckless moments which can create injury risk for the scout team and us as well.”
One of the members of the Bowie boys golf team that participated in the game is senior Jack Considine. Considine is a third-year member of the golf team and has his fair share of basketball experience as he played his freshman year.
“It was a lot of fun getting to play against the girls team,” Considine said. “We all had fun with it, we dressed up in jerseys and made it an overall funny, and light-hearted experience for us. I think we were all a little anxious to see how it turned out and how we competed, but I will say it went well on our side of things. I was just glad to suit up with my boys.”
The scout team starts in a typical 5-on-5 half-court format. Both teams get three possessions on offense and switch off with one another. The coaches then had the scouts learn the upcoming opposing team’s offense,this was to help prepare the Lady ‘Dawgs for their game against Lake Travis the following day.
“Learning Lake Travis’ offense was confusing but also valuable,” Considine said. “I was definitely very confused at first, but I think we all kind of got the hang of it, once we ran it a few times. It definitely helps that we were all former basketball players. I think it was helpful for both sides and as soon as we learned their offense we really started pouring it on them. None of them could guard me.”
With district play coming to a close, it is likely that there will not be another chance for the scout team to perform. The ‘Dawgs finished the season going 10-2 in district play and 24-9 overall. Finishing second place in the seven-team bracket.
“I think individually my goal is to just keep pushing on defense,” Guzman said. “Playoffs are starting soon, and as a team, we are going to try and push and make a deep run. The scout teams have helped us get to this point and now our goal is to just play the best basketball possible.”
