Although the Kiowa girls basketball team ended their 2008-09 season with a loss, the team has no reason to hang their heads. Ending with a winning record of 20-4, and sweeping the District 8 Tournament as the champions, the Indians have come a long way since last year.

Head coach Josh Schneider credits the team’s maturity as one of the main reasons for the successful season.

Last season he started five sophomores, and those five girls stepped up their game this season bringing Kiowa all the way to the regional tournament only to lose by two points as their chances of making the final state tournament games slipped from their fingertips.

The girls last game against Merino was a tough one Schneider said losing 53-55, but said it was great to see the girls improve from last year and truly work together as a team.

“The girls untied as a team and played for each other and not as an individual,” he said.

Now after such a successful season, the Indians are expected to be work even harder next year Schneider said, and with five senior starters the team’s chances at the state finals are even higher.

Schneider said there will be extra expectations from the team and he hopes the girls can live up to them with out feeling too much pressure.

“We definitely want to improve for next season and we want to get to the next level,” he said. “And that level is the state finals and that is what we are striving for.”

Schneider said the team will start preparing for the 2009-10 season this summer by getting in the gym and shooting, and playing some local tournaments. He said the girls have to improve their shooting skills before next season.

“We only shot 29 percent in our final game and I think if we would have done better, we could have beaten them,” he said. “But I’m proud of them and I’m looking forward to next year and reaching the next level.”