"Last year we didn't have any chemistry" says Drew Titans girls basketball coach Chris Smith as summer activities are back

Like every high school sports team in America, the lack of summer activities had its fair share of impact on the Drew Lady Titans basketball team. Loaded with underclassmen and only one senior, the chance to build team chemistry through summer workouts and participation in summer leagues was shut down due to COVID-19 and the Titans had to tough things out once the 2020-2021 season officially got underway and would finish the season with a sub-five hundred record. With things slowly returning back to normal, summer activities are back for teams and the Titans are diving in to take full advantage of it.

We caught up with the Lady Titans and head Coach, Chris Smith as a recent summer league game and asked how special it was for his team to have the opportunity to work together this summer. “It’s a great feeling, really just getting out and working with the girls, just trying to build that chemistry,” Smith said. He went on to say that “last year we didn’t have any chemistry and that took us throughout the season and it kind of showed.” Smith added that the lack of summer activity did not give his team an opportunity to prepare and simply “get ready for the season.” Smith noted that now having the chance to work with his returning players will be good because he can focus on roles they will move into.

As for on the court improvements, Coach Smith did not hesitate to point of his teams shooting. “Learning how to shoot the basketball, that’s our main thing. We don’t shoot the ball well. We don’t do a lot of things well, but the girls are working hard, they’re trying and it will be a work in progress.”