CRESTVIEW — Expectations are no different for Crestview’s girls basketball team as the 2015-16 season starts.
The Bulldogs have made the playoffs each of the past two years, and Coach Kathy Combest thinks that should help her team.
“We have a little more experience and a little more confidence in what we do,” she said. “We are working together and making sure we do all the little things.”
Those little things are basketball basics of blocking out for rebounds and taking care of the basketball. Combest believes if the Bulldogs chip away at the opposition by doing small things well, the big things will fall into the place.
Combest is now in her fourth year as Crestview's coach. And while the Bulldogs don’t have any seniors, they are experienced at most positions.
Post players Netaya Winston, Tiara Payne and Dionjenae Hendrix are juniors, as are guards KK McTear and Nyquaja Collins. Dejiah Spates, who is sidelined by an injury, is another junior who has seen a lot of playing time the last two seasons.
Crestview is in the three-team District 2-6A with Fort Walton Beach and Choctawhatchee. The Bulldogs won the District 1-7A the past two years competing against Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Navarre and Tate.
Choctaw, which played in the state championship game in Class 6A in 2013 and Class 5A in 2014, is probably the early favorite to win the district, but Combest takes nothing for granted.
“Choctaw is coming back strong and Fort Walton is getting better,” she said. “I saw them (the Vikings in the preseason) and I thought they did a good job.
“We have just have to play.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview girls more experienced, confident