Business and fun await Lady Wolves in Branson

Lake Hamilton's Nancy Coffman (32) works under the basket while Greenwood's Madison Cartwright (2) defends Nov. 17 at Wolf Arena. - Photo by Krishnan Collins of The Sentinel-Record
Lake Hamilton's Nancy Coffman (32) works under the basket while Greenwood's Madison Cartwright (2) defends Nov. 17 at Wolf Arena. - Photo by Krishnan Collins of The Sentinel-Record

PEARCY -- An early-season trip to Branson means balancing business and fun for the Lake Hamilton Lady Wolves.

Blake Condley's team starts a three-day tournament tonight against Branson, and his players are going to learn what it's like to have a good time on the road while also balancing the seriousness of school work and basketball.

"We just enjoy being able to spend time together," Condley said. "That was our conversation before we left the gym (Wednesday). You know we're going on a business trip but we're going to have some fun while we're there." So being able to learn how to separate that and knowing that there's going to be fun stuff that we're going to be doing."

The Lady Wolves (0-4) will practice on game days during the tournament and also have a study hall in a team hotel conference room Thursday and a study hall at Branson High School Friday.

"Just learning to help the kids kind of manage their time and figure out how to do things," Condley said. "We originally scheduled it to try to help us get ready for when it comes state tournament time."

When the Lady Wolves aren't practicing, competing or doing homework, they will get to go to fun places like the outlet mall and the Branson Boardwalk.

"If the state tournament is somewhere where you have to go stay in a hotel and hopefully you play well, your kids need to know how to manage themselves and be able to enjoy the trip but at the same time when it's time for your business, to be able to take care of your business," Condley said. "So just being able to do both of those things. I think it's just a good learning experience for the kids."

Getting down to the business side, Condley said the Lady Wolves have been going to the tournament in Branson for around 11 years now but have only won the entire thing twice.

"We feel like we get good competition when we go," Condley said. "We like the competition. We feel like it helps to get us ready for our conference season that's coming up. That's ultimately our goal right now. Everything that we do is, 'Hey, how can we get better to get ready for conference?'"

The Lady Wolves take on Arkansas' Mountain Home Friday before closing out the tournament Saturday against another Show-Me State school, Waynesville.

"We're just able to get a look at some different competition," Condley said. "Some different things we may not see here. But you know when I've been looking at playing Branson, they've been playing a 1-3-1 defense. Which we've already played a couple of teams that do that. I know we're going to see that come conference. So that's going to be good."

Condley said Waynesville has not yet played a game this season, but luckily the Lady Wolves will get to watch the Lady Tigers over the first two days of the tournament.

"That to me helps us to get ready for a tournament environment," Condley said. "You know like in the state tournament you prepare for a game and then hopefully you win that game where you've got to get a quick turnaround and prepare for another team and a different scenario and a different situation. I think it helps the more times you can put your kids in those situations. It relieves the anxiety when they have to go to that situation again."

Part of the fun for Lake Hamilton is the fact a lot of family members of players travel to the Branson tournament.

Whether the Lady Wolves are handling business or having a bit of fun, the Branson experience will be one to remember.

"We have former players that love the trip so much, they'll probably end up there with their parents for one of the nights," Condley said. "It's just kind of become a big deal. With both boys and girls going, we get a pretty good following. The Branson AD and coaches have said we bring as big a crowd as anybody, sometimes bigger than the Branson crowd. It's kind of funny because it's four hours away."

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