Q/A with Head Girls Basketball Coach Kendall Webb

The Rider girls basketball team is coming off two straight trips to the regional semifinals and begins this season with high expectations. They own a 1-1 record after a one-point loss to Muenster and a victory over Vernon. 

The Rider Chronicle sat down with head basketball coach Kendall Webb to discuss how he feels about this season.  

Q: How do you and your team feel about going into this season? 

A: Last year we lost six girls, so we’re still trying to figure out our rotations and kind of a team, but overall we still have a good core of returners. So it is just trying to gel and get everything together. It’s going to take us a little bit, but I feel good kind of where we are. 

Q: How will the season differ from previous?

A: Last year we had a lot of experience, this year we have a lot of new girls, so just trying to get everything up to speed. Just gaining the experiences as the season goes on, will just take us a little bit longer. 

Q: How  was the process of having a highly recruited player like Jalynn Bristow been like for you?

A: You know it’s fun, getting talked to these college coaches and a lot of times we just end up talking basketball and just getting to see them in person. It’s been a kind of good experience. It’s a unique and special thing. 

Q: Besides Bristow, who are your key players this year?

A: We return Addison Self, she’s a big girl inside for us that does a great job. Kylie Flippin is now taking over the point guard role, she has pretty good experience. Stephanie Mock, she returns back from last year, good shooter for us. McKenzie Lammers has really stepped into a big role for us. 

Q: How does it feel to be able to have tournaments again after the lack of them due to COVID?

A: It’s great, not just because you get to go play a bunch of games, but a lot of it is just a bonding experience. I think that is one thing we really missed out on last year. We have practices, games, bus rides and being around the team for that period of time, you get a lot closer. Whereas, it’s hard when you have restrictions on you and you are kind of hesitant to do anything outside of basketball. 

Q: What are your biggest obstacles this year?

A: Just stay healthy, stay out of foul trouble, we have to get these younger girls some experience, and I think we really just got to grow as a team.