The Lakeland High School girls’ basketball team will travel to Boo Williams Sportsplex on Thursday to compete in a holiday tournament.

The Lady Cavs will be featured in the Red Bracket of the tournament, which will be played on court six. Their first opponent will be James Monroe High School at 5:30 p.m.

This season has been a bit of an adjustment so far for the Lady Cavs. They are under the direction of a new head coach in Daryl Rountree and have yet to win a game, even though they have been in some close ones so far. Rountree believes the team is still learning a new system and still getting acquainted.

“We are feeling good, and we are still enthusiastic about the learning curve,” Rountree said. “They have been picking up everything we have been teaching them. They are certainly progressing.”

Rountree did admit there have been some frustrations this season, but only because the Lady Cavs want to win so badly. They are enjoying the process of trying to get better, and Rountree believes in 2018 Lakeland will start to string together some wins. Some of the games have been more competitive than the scores have indicated, as a few games have gotten away from Lakeland.

“We feel like the results are going to start to show soon,” Rountree. “Some of these guys we have played well for two and three quarters, and the games have gotten away from us a bit at times. At no time do the girls give up. They keep fighting and keep playing. There is no resistance from this team, and that is exciting for a new coach and new system.”

Lakeland is looking forward to its first competition since the holiday break started. The Lady Cavs are looking forward to showing the “new Lakeland.”

“We want to show them how we are going to play basketball,” Rountree said. “We want to show how we are going to work and fight and not give up.”

Over the break, the Lady Cavs have been able to spend more time together with no games in between. That time is crucial for a team and a new coach. The more time the team spends together, Rountree believes, the better off they will be.

Heading into 2018, the Lady Cavs are going to continue to trust the process. Rountree has been preaching all season long to trust the person next to you. Trust that your teammate can make the play, and trust that your teammate can help out when you make a mistake.