Joe Diehl/The Sachse News
Edith Velasquez, here battling for a loose ball, is one of the players tasked with playing guard for Sachse.

By Greg Ford
Sports Editor
[email protected]

Rarely, if at all, are they the tallest on the court. However, no position plays a larger role in a team’s pursuit of victory.
They are the guards, the gnome-like ball handlers and hawks through whom the offensive and defensive tones are set.
That is never more true than with the Sachse Lady Mustangs, a team whose style is predicated on an up-tempo attack and pressure defense, with a quick transition required between the latter and former. However, the blue and white is also a squad that, if required, will settle into a half-court offense, where again the guards’ ability to run the attack is paramount.
“My guards are really key in our transition game,” head coach Donna McCullough said. “We like to push the ball really fast, and we like to be in an up-tempo defense. Once we get the ball, my guards are huge in getting their heads up and ball out quickly. We don’t do a lot of dribbling during transition … and our guards have to have the mindset of pushing it really, really fast. At the same time, they have to be really smart, and if (the pass) is not there, they have to pull back and set up and offense.”
(To read the entire story, check out the Dec. 10 edition of The Sachse News)