Timber Creek's center Brittany Cross makes a play.
Nothing helps build confidence like a winning streak.
And the Timber Creek High School girls’ basketball team headed into the holidays with a 12-0 record — something Head Coach Richard Cross hopes will motivate them to keep the streak alive.
The squad capped the run with a 59-56 win over district rival University on Dec. 16.
Senior leadership is part of the Wolves’ winning formula. The trio of 12th grade top brass includes Brittany Whatts, Jasmine Wigfall and Brittany Cross, the coach’s daughter.
Coach Cross has been pleased with the teamwork he has seen this season. He praised the team’s ball movement and the number of assists per game. He also credited the team’s defense with a key boost in wins over Jones and Evans.
Brittany Cross has been averaging two blocks per game and she led the team with 16 points in the win over University.
“She is short for a post player, but she plays strong,” Richard Cross said.
Brittany also provides her dad with an extra coach on the floor. She quickly states that “patience” is the key to the team’s success on offense.
“We run our game, not theirs,” she said. “When we execute our plays we get open looks. We are a close-knit and very connected team. We have known Coach and each other for a long time.”
Coach Cross has his team running both the fast break and the half-court offense. He is also throwing different defenses at opponents. Timber Creek can create a lot of challenges for teams that come to play the Wolves, he said.
Wigfall has also been a reliable scorer for the team. She had 10 points against Father Lopez and 11 against University.
Sophomore Christina Potts and freshman Jessica Font have been big contributors to the Timber Wolves. Potts had 13 points against University and 24 against Father Lopez. Font directs the offense from her point guard spot and she can also shoot from the outside. She nailed a pair of threes against Father Lopez.
“I have to be confident and calm,” Font said. “I have to keep my head up and see what everyone is doing.”
Font credits her teammates with keeping her relaxed on the court. She can always count on someone to make a joke or wisecrack to keep the game fun.
If Timber Creek has a second half of the season anything like the first half, Coach Cross and all his girls will have time for a lot more fun.
The girls and their coach have set their sights beyond the district tournament and on state playoffs — a point the team has yet to reach.
The District 5-8A line-up includes Colonial, East River, University and Winter Park. The Wolves have already defeated the East River Falcons and the University Cougars.
The showdown with the Winter Park Wildcats will be on Jan. 13 at Winter Park. On Jan. 20, Timber Creek will host the Colonial Grenadiers.