The Buchholz High girls basketball team is facing many challenges this season, including replacing almost all of their starters from a year ago, fighting through a tough schedule and improving a young team that has only one senior on its roster (Tabitha Makopondo).

The team’s youth and inexperience has cost it a couple of games along the way, including a recent 64-62 loss to Delray Beach Atlantic at the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville Invitational at Gainesville High, which had the Bobcats at 6-8 on the season.

“This was probably one of our better games of the season,”?said coach Rebecca Williams. “We had more kids involved. Our post presence was there. We had some good outside presence from the guards.”

But, Williams says her team is not necessarily focused on the win-loss record. “It’s all about preparing for Districts and that’s how we look at them,” says the coach.

To continue to improve, Williams says her team will continue to fight through “one of the hardest schedules in the state.” Among the Bobcats’ opponents is Lake Mary (the number 2-ranked team in the state and the top-ranked team in Class 6A).

“We have a young roster and they’re stepping up,”?says Williams. “Right now, we’re lacking a little bit at guard. Jessica Goble is our freshman stepping up at the point. I’m not looking for her to play the point because she’s a good shooter, but we’re trying to develop another point guard.”

Williams says that with more experience, she’s confident her young squad will be ready to compete when it comes time for the Class 6A-District 1 Tournament in February. “We need to work on all aspects, see the inside, create our own shots,”?she says. “We need to focus on X’s and O’s.”

The Bobcats’ next home game is a Thursday, January 10, 7:30 p.m., vs. District opponent Fletcher. Buchholz will spend the weekend of January 11-12 competing in Orlando.

Buchholz varsity roster: Chantia Taylor, Simone Durden, Kristian Harding, Christine Pinder, Shawntavia Hunt, Passhayla Williams, Jessica Goble, Deanna Crawford, Kiarra Rawls, Wilamena Hopkins, Tabitha Makopondo.