It's been a learning experience in more ways than one this season for the Paris Panthers.
Although they dropped to 1-5 to start the second half of the Brant County senior girls basketball season thanks to a 41-21 loss Tuesday night to the North Park Collegiate Trojans (4-2), the Panthers are finding solace in the little victories.
For example, Grade 11 Paris student Marlie Stephens-Keresturi is enjoying basketball after being away from the game since Grade 8.
"It's my last two years at school, so I thought why not play?" Stephens-Keresturi said. "To be honest, I regret not playing, especially in Grade 9. I really missed it."
Stephens-Keresturi has had to be a sponge, picking up every little bit of knowledge from her coach Dani Hawkins and teammates. And at times it's been tough.
"When I first started, I completely forgot everything I knew back in Grade 8," she said. "In elementary school I always did well. But jumping from grade-school basketball to high school is really different."
She said it has been tough to keep up to the other players.
"They've already learned a lot of the things and at times I have to take a step back and try to learn what they know," Stephens-Keresturi said.
"But it's going good. I'm getting it thanks to my great teammates and coach."
One of those players she's learned from is Grade 11 classmate Beth Stulen.
"I learn from her daily," Stephens-Keresturi said. "In grade-school we didn't do any box-outs or motion, or any of the cross plays. I've been really improving on that and my layups thanks to them. It's also nice to sometimes get a chance to do it in a game as long as my hands are working."
Despite the difficulty of getting back into the swing of things, she's enjoyed every minute of it.
"I love everyone on the team," Stephens-Keresturi said.
"It's been a lot of fun so far. I'd like it if we won a little more but it's been really fun."
And that's an attitude that's helped veteran players, such as Stulen, adapt to being leaders.
"Admittedly, it's a little frustrating sometimes," Stulen said. "But there's a pride here, and we play as hard as we can."
Stulen said she enjoys the leadership role.
"We genuinely enjoy our practices and games. They're a riot. We're here because we love to play."
And one of the things that keeps her coming back is the steady improvement.
"We've improved so much from day one," Stulen said.
"During our second game of the year our offence was a mess. We had people standing at the top of the key and looking around and nothing was coming. It was really frustrating. Players are now learning to cut, and when to go. It's come so far."
Retrieved From: http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2012/10/09/despite-losses-panthers-see-improvement
Results
Senior
NPC 41, Paris 21
NPC: Taylor Greenwood 11, Abbey Sayles 8, Allyson DeLorenzi 5, Jessica Grant 5, Jasneet Phanoa 4, Abbey Johnston 4, Kirsten Sowa 4.
Paris: Beth Stulen 11, Katie McPartlin 2, Faye Perry 4, Pam Vellenga.
Junior
NPC 42, Paris 16
NPC: Brooke Cesar 12, Halle Sitarski 9, Hattie Osborne 7. Paris: Avery Hamill 7, Evelyna Press 2, Courtney Boehmer 2, Emily Lynch 2, Natalia Vandenheyden 2, Leah VanStuyuenberg 1.
