(Jamie Williamson File Photo) Matt Kirschner wishes he could have his whole Lady Panthers' team with him as he gets set to coach Thursday's TGCA All-Star basketball game. However, he WILL get a chance to coach two of his former players, Kourtney Bevers and Taylor Russell, in the game.
by Chuck Licata
Kourtney Bevers and Taylor Russell may be Liberty Hill High School graduates, but their “former” LHHS head coach – Matt Kirschner – gets to coach his two former star players for one more game.
Kirschner talked to the Liberty Hill Leader and LibertyHillSports.com late Sunday from Garland, where he was staying with his parents (thanks to Matt's wife Laura for that information).
All-Star week, to be held in Arlington, includes the TGCA feature event for softball this Tuesday night, followed by volleyball on Wednesday and basketball on Thursday.
Former LHHS volleyball star Catherine “Cat” Heath will participate in Wednesday’s volleyball classic.
“I love the opportunity to coach Taylor and Kourtney one more time,” Kirschner declared. “I’m going to enjoy it. I really wish I could have all of my seniors – heck, all of my team – here for this game. It’d be nice to find a way to get a fifth-year eligibility (rule) for our seniors, but that’s probably not going to happen.
“It’ll be a lot of fun; we’ll make it fun as well as coaching them.”
Kirschner will have his hands full with a team of all-stars in the Class 1A-2A-3A event. He’ll get two practices with his squad – one late Wednesday night, another Thursday morning.
“The girls checkin around 5:30 on Wednesday night,” Kirschner started, “and we’ll get a good two-hour practice that night. After a clinic (for both coaches and players) on Thursday morning, we’ll get another hour of practice in before the game.”
Kirschner, who’s style of coaching the Lady Panthers includes a rotation of girls at certain points of each quarter, will deal with the same Thursday night.
“The all-star coaches are bound to a roation rule,” Kirschner said. “But I’m used to it. It will be different in the sense I don’t know all these girls (and their particular talents). We’ll just try to find the best combination of players during practice.”
Kirschner is coaching the South team in the all-star game because he was nominated – and appointed – by his coaching peers. The LHHS mentor has some familiar faces around him, too.
LHHS trainer Sarah Baulch (“Miss B.”) is in Garland to be one of the trainers for all-star week. One of Kirschner’s own coaches, Jamie Junkin (who coaches the LHHS freshman basketball team), is there as a chapaerone for the basketball teams.
