> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Focus different at the start of season for Winnacunnet girls basketball team - URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/focus-different-start-season-winnacunnet-girls-basketball-team/ - Published: 2017-12-12T13:00:26.000Z - Updated: 2017-12-12T13:00:26.000Z - Description: With six seniors on the roster, Cassie Turcotte expects that her Winnacunnet High School girls basketball teams knows how to play the game. What the Warriors and their coach have been focused on to this point in the season has been the mental side of what it takes to be successful on the court. - Author: Joe Marchilena - Tags: Division I, girls basketball, NH High School Sports Insider, slider, Winnacunnet, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44 With six seniors on the roster, Cassie Turcotte expects that her Winnacunnet High School girls basketball teams knows how to play the game. What the Warriors and their coach have been focused on to this point in the season has been the mental side of what it takes to be successful on the court. So while Winnacunnet, which opened the year with a 40-17 win over Alvirne last Friday, was able to get control of its first game of the year by being efficient on offense, it was what the Warrios did defensively in the opening six minutes that was what Turcotte wanted to see. With Alvirne able to keep possession for long stretches, Winnacunnet had to play smart defense, and did so successfully. The Warriors fouled just once in that opening stretch and didn't allow a point until the first quarter was halfway done. "Our focus is on being disciplined," Turcotte said. "I’ve got a group here that does want to focus. They’re committed to the mental part of the game. That’s something a lot of teams forgo. We’re tackling this from a mindset point of view. Where do we need to be to compete? Recognize where players are, communicating, it’s more of a mental game to start this year." The team has bought in from the start of preseason practices. "Our theme of the season has been mindset, and just come out every game playing a hundred percent, be calm on the offensive and defensive end," senior co-captain Hannah Driscoll said. "I think we did that well. That’s why we got the result we got." Turcotte is hopeful that the results will be a lot like Friday this season in part because she has players who are interchangeable, and many of them can not only shoot, but don't appear to be afraid to. "This is the best structured shooting team I’ve had so far," the coach said. "Everybody on the floor can shoot, and part of that is that I don’t have true post players. I only have a handful of them. I’m playing pretty much guard lineups. I’m lucky that they’re tall, but they’re really not meant for the post. I do have more people who are looking to score, where as in years past, you had to prompt them." Winnacunnet had four different plays hit 3-pointers on Friday against Alvirne and eight different players scored points in the win. That might have been a product of being able to get everyone into the game, but Turcotte thinks that it could mean that anyone on the floor is capable to go off on any night. And, of course, the experience plays a big factor. "Since we do have six seniors, it’s really great, all that experience that we do have," senior co-captain Jenny Freedman said. "If I’m off the court, everyone can adapt to every position because we’re a team of guards. We’re all adapting to everything that’s happening on and off the court, and that definitely came from all of our experience." The more the Warriors have played together, the easier it's become to do so. "We’re all such good friends," Driscoll said. "I think that chemistry between us helps us on the court as well. I think that’s why it’s such a big thing. You can tell that we have that chemistry." Winnacunnet is scheduled to go on the road again on Tuesday, traveling to face Manchester Central.