After a 14-14 campaign last season, Lindbergh Flyers girls basketball coach Michelle Pittroff has reason to have a positive outlook for the upcoming season.
“We are optimistic for a successful season this year, improving on last years record,” Pittroff said. “Our goal for every game is to be competitive and give ourselves a chance in the fourth quarter.”
Lindbergh returns 10 players from last year’s squad, including the top two scorers on the team: senior Nyla Jackson and Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville signee Rory Conboy. Conboy averaged 12 points per game and 10 rebounds last season, while Jackson averaged 9.5 points per game.
Like most coaches, Pittroff knows the key for her team is to continue to improve throughout the season.
“The girls are working hard and buying in,” Pittroff said. “It’s a long season and our focus is to get better each day and play our best basketball in February.”
Pittroff admitted that the team will look to their senior players to lead the way this season.
“We have a strong senior class that has put a lot of time and effort into the program,” she said. “They have built something special and the focus is on taking it day-by-day, game-by-game.”
Things are looking good early in the season, as Lindbergh has won its first two games beating Mehlville 55-12 and Windsor 63-38. That streak continued to the Southside Classic girls basketball tournament the first weekend of December.
The Flyers rallied from 11 points down to defeat Oakville 44-42, in the championship game of the tournament. The win improved Lindbergh’s record to 3-0, while Oakville dropped to 2-1.
The Flyers benefited from Conboy, who added 11 points in her return to the court from a sprained ankle.
“Rory (Conboy) is a huge presence on the floor for us both on offense and defense, so it was definitely a boost knowing she’d be able to play,” Pittroff said. “The training staff did a nice job all week to get her back in the lineup quickly.”
MJ Abercrombie also added nine points in the victory.
While the Flyers found themselves down late in the third quarter, Pittroff said the team didn’t get down on themselves or try to do too much at one time, benefitting them in the game.
“I was definitely proud of how they came together as a team, didn’t get ahead of themselves, took advantage of the momentum swings and took it one possession at a time,” she said.
Pittroff said the adversity that the team is facing early in the season with overcoming deficits and injuries will only make Lindbergh a better team as the season goes on.
“I feel like we are an experienced team, returning 10 from last year, and we learned some things from close games last year,” she said. “I think this is a confident group and they feel like they are never out of a game. They won’t ever stop working, and enjoy playing for each other and lifting each other up.”
Despite the big win and being 3-0, Pittroff said the team will continue to improve.
“It’s always nice to get off to a good start and gain some confidence,” she said. “We still have plenty to work on and continue to get better at.”