The Bryan County High Lady Redskins basketball squad ended summer league play last week after a 25 game slate. The Lady Skins hosted a tournament on June 5 and 6 to get the league play started and picked up several wins throughout the summer. This was the first time that a tourney like this had been held during the summer and head coach Mario Mincey believes it will be something to continue in the future.
"The main thing we wanted to accomplish with a tournament like this was to provide some of the younger girls with a game type atmosphere, with real officials so they can get a regular season game feeling under their belt,” Mincey said. “We played several teams that we don't normally play and will not be playing during the regular season. It provided our girls the opportunity to play against different levels of competition, and I feel like we held our own against those teams."
As in most all summer leagues, winning is not usually at the forefront of the coach's agenda and that was true for Mincey and his girls.
"My main focus was geared toward getting as many girls as possible into these games and out on the basketball court to gain some playing experience within our system, and I feel like we accomplished that" added Mincey. 
Mincey was pleased with the development he saw from his squad and feels like they had a very beneficial summer league.
“For the first time since I have been at Bryan County I don't feel like I have to start over each time,” he continued. “The girls now understand what I mean when I say something and know what we are trying to accomplish without me having to explain everything to them, so I feel they have come a long way in understanding our system and goals."
Though winning wasn't the main focus during the summer, the Lady Skins did pick up some quality wins over region foes Jenkins County, Southeast Bulloch, Portal and Toombs County. Even up against some stiffer competition, the Redskins held their own down to the wire against Westside Augusta, Screven County, Windsor Forest, and ECI.
Mincey said the summer team was led by lone seniors Samantha Howard and Ashleigh Simmons. Junior Whitney Fields also had a good summer as she continues to improve. Sophomores Tiffany Howard and Satashala Beasley also did a good job “as they gained valuable experience during these games.”
The Lady Skins will continue to hit the weight room for the rest of the summer to get ready for the upcoming winter season.