Women's Basketball heads to Georgia for pre-season jamboree and receives surprise along the way

The Indian River Women's Basketball team kicked off their pre-season in Albany, Georgia this past weekend. 

The River played in three scrimmages facing teams from Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. With each scrimmage the team began to relax and become more comfortable with each other. The first game found the Pioneers scrappy and scrambling to find their rhythmn. The second game versus Cape Fear challenged the River as the team was uptempo and pressing, something the Pioneers were not quite ready for.  By the final game of the day, the Pioneers were settled into the offense and had learned a lot throughout the day. Good shots, solid play execution and an understanding of their newly implemented defense found the Pioneers playing as a team and pulling off a victory. 

Not only did the Pioneers grow as a team on the court, they did so off the court as well. On the teams route to Georgia the team was able to sit in and observe the Florida Gators women's basketball team practice under new Head Coach Cameron Newbauer. The Pioneers watched from the upper seating area for over two hours of the Gators practice picking up on drills and various skill development exercises. Towards the end of practice the team was allowed to head down to sit on the sidelines as the Gators closed out practice. It was then that not only the Gators women's basketball team, but the IRSC women's basketball team as well, would receive a special visitor. Tim Tebow had stopped by to meet and inspire the newest generation of Florida Gators. His message to the team was motivational and moving, we felt honored to be able to hear the story of his journey and what pushed him to succeed. Tim Tebow then took time to meet each of the members of the Indian River State College women's basketball team and took a picture for them to remember. 

The opening pre-season scrimmage was memorable in many areas for the River. They now have a week to work on their offense and defense before heading to Tallahassee on October 14th to participate in the Southern Challenge Jamboree.