It seems that Pearland has struck oil yet again.
The Lady Oilers have been on a tear throughout the entire Fall, however the second half of district-play is where the group turned it up a notch.
Under the direction of coach Jamie Gill, Pearland is preparing for the imminent postseason.
“Having a lot of returners coming back that know the expectations has been tremendous for us,” said GIll. “These girls have trusted the process of where we start on day one, and how we work throughout the season.”
“We’re peaking at the right time. We’ve experienced a lot of injuries this year, so the fact that we’re healthy at this time in the season is very helpful.”
In the three seasons she has been with the program, Gill has brought plenty to the table, which continues to elevate her team on a yearly basis.
“I put a lot of emphasis on the little things, like discipline and doing the right thing off the court,” she said. “We work out consistently and we focus on mental health. There’s plenty of communication between the kids and the coaching staff.”
“The girls have to be comfortable being uncomfortable is a good way to put it. They’re put in situations where they deal with adversity and they learn to work through it. We have a lot of talent at Pearland, but it has to transfer over to the mental game and being able to push back when there’s pressure.”
That mentality has certainly paid off, now that Pearland (32-10; 10-1 in district) is looking at a co-district championship alongside Dawson, due to their season split.
Mia Ramirez
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Nadia Dunn
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Kimanni Rugley
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Allie Schwartz
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Everything is clicking on all cylinders on the court, with Avery Koonsen (So. OH), Kimanni Rugley (Jr. MH), Mia Ramirez (Sr. L), and Nadia Dunn (Sr. OH) being among the premier playmakers for the talented squad.
So, what’s it going to take to keep this momentum rolling into the playoffs?
“We’re going to have to keep doing what we’re doing,” Gill said. “Continuing to be healthy will be essential, and they’ll have to keep trusting in each other and in themselves. That’s something they’ve gotten really good at – being pumped up for each other. If that continues, then the possibilities are endless for this group.”
With only one game remaining in the regular season, something tells us that Pearland is destined for a deep playoff run. They’ve made themselves well-known in H-Town and will be a prime contender come November.