This season, the Potosi/Cassville girls’ basketball team is stepping onto the court with fewer players than usual, but that hasn’t stopped them from setting big goals. Even with a short roster and a few injuries making the numbers even lower, the team is embracing the challenge with a “quality over quantity” mindset that head Coach Jamie Nebel has repeated since the first practice.
“We talk a lot about quality over quantity,” Nebel said. “We may not have a lot of girls, but the ones we have are talented, hardworking, and ready to compete.”
There are a total of 16 girls on the PC basketball team; five seniors, five juniors, four sophomores, and two freshmen.
Having a smaller team means this season will be tough in different ways. Players won’t get as many breaks, fouls will matter a lot more, and everyone will have to push through tired legs late in games. But instead of seeing that as a setback, the girls see it as something that brings them closer together.
Senior Ayva Yager said the low numbers have actually made the team stronger. “With fewer people, we’ve all gotten really close,” Yager said. “We rely on each other for everything, on and off the court. It has made our bond way better.”
That bond is important because communication and trust are now bigger priorities than ever. With only a handful of players out there, one unnecessary foul can change a game. Yager said talking constantly has become automatic. “If one person messes up, we all feel it, so we’ve learned to support each other more,” said Yager.
Junior Brielle Fishnick agreed, adding that discipline is one of the biggest challenges this year. “We have to be aggressive, but also smart,” Fishnick said. “We can’t get into foul trouble because we don’t have a huge bench to fall back on. Coach keeps telling us to stay controlled, but still play tough.”
Coach Nebel said that balance is what the season will come down to. The team wants to stay competitive, bring energy, and keep their intensity high, but they also know they have to play with focus.
“We’re working on playing fast while still being disciplined,” Nebel said. “These girls have a lot of heart, and that’s something you can’t coach. They show up, they communicate, and they trust each other.”
Even with the challenges, the team is staying positive. They know that not having many players means everyone gets more playing time, more responsibility, and more chances to grow. Instead of trying to hide mistakes or blend in, every player has a really important role.
“This year, everyone matters,” Fishnick said. “We’re all needed. That’s what makes it special.”
As the season gets underway, the Potosi/Cassville girls’ basketball team is ready to prove that a small roster doesn’t mean small expectations. With strong chemistry, tough mindsets, and a group that truly believes in each other, they’re showing that success isn’t always about how many players you have, but how hard you fight with the ones you do.