Despite finishing with an 11-15 record, Wauneta-Palisade girls’ basketball coach Matt Cox sees a lot of positives from this season, especially playing in a district final.
    “It was important to me to make that district final game, I know our sub was weak, no one had a winning record, but I wanted the girls to finish the season on a positive note, and we did,” Coach Cox said.
We didn’t play well against FCSH, but we got a taste of postseason basketball and the things that you have to do to advance to a state tourney.”
    While Coach Cox said the Broncos lost some games they shouldn’t have, WP stepped up in some games that “we shouldn’t have been competitive in either.”
    The loss to Arapahoe in late December was a tough one for the coach.
    “It showed me that our biggest hurdle for the rest of the season, and even going into the off season, was our mental toughness. We were pretty good when things were going our way, but if we got challenged mentally, the wheels fell off in a hurry. And I think we were better in this regard at the end of the year.”
    WP only had two seniors on the roster.
    Michalea Dukes never missed a game in her high school career.
    “Michaela has been awesome, she’s a kid that enjoys the process of practice, the weight room, and is going to play sports at the next level,” Coach Cox said. “She’s always in a good mood and always brings effort and I’ve really enjoyed being able to coach her for the last four years.”
    Classmate Faith Lemon transferred to WP her junior year and wrestled for the Broncos last year.
    “I’m so glad Faith decided to play basketball her senior year,” Coach Cox said. “She’s extremely physical and a prime example of how fundamentals instilled at a young age stay with you forever. She was a huge asset to the team this season, I just wish we could have gotten her sooner!”

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