The Mart Lady Panthers recently closed out an undefeated run through District 16-1A Division I and are ranked No. 22 in the state by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.

Junior guard Lashelle Williams is the motor that makes Mart’s up-tempo style work, averaging 14 points, 4.3 assists and three steals per game. On Thursday, Williams spent a few minutes talking with Trib staff writer Jason Orts.

LaShelle Williams

Q: Mart just finished an undefeated run through district. What was that like for you?

A: It hasn’t been done here in a long time. For me to get a chance to play with this group of girls, it was great because there’s never going to be a group of girls like that again. Those seniors are amazing, so it was a good chance for us to go through it together and do something that hasn’t been done here since the 1970s.

Q: What do you think makes this team so special?

A: Willingness to play together. We play as a team, we act as a team, all of us are stronger than one of us, as our coach would say. We just play really good together. We know what to do and what not to do, and we know each other’s faults and weaknesses. That’s what makes it really good.

Q: Mart is a pressing team, but usually only uses six players. Do you ever get tired during the course of a game?

A: Our coach makes sure we’re in good shape, to press a team as much as we do. Sometimes we get worn out, but we still come in here every day to practice how we want to play. We practice pretty hard and play harder.

Q: You’ve got some time off before your first playoff game now. What’s the mood of the team?

A: We’re anxious, but we never underestimate any of our opponents. We practice hard every day to get better for the playoffs, so I think we’re going to go far and do pretty good.

Q: What is there to do in Mart, Texas?

A: Most of the girls on the basketball team are my best friends. They’ll be graduating this year, so we usually just have fun, go out to eat, have movie nights as a team. We do a lot of good stuff together as a team.

Q: When the team does get together, what kinds of movies do you like to watch?

A: We love funny movies like The Hangover, and we love basketball movies. Love and Basketball would happen to be our favorite. So we watch good movies, no scary movies.

Q: Do you think having that team camaraderie helps you get over it when things aren’t going well on the court?

A: We’re always there for each other. If somebody messes up, we don’t point fingers because it’s not one of us, it’s all of us. We just try to build each other’s courage and keep cheering them on and do what’s best for our team.

Q: What is the biggest area in which you’ve grown during your time in high school?

A: I’ve grown up a lot, and I definitely know that I can be very obnoxious at times, but Coach (Melissa) Fuller puts me in my place. I’ve learned how to be in a group and not be so shy and timid around people because these girls bring it out of you.

Q: Are there any guilty little pleasures that you like to have, but you aren’t supposed to during basketball season?

A: When we go grocery shopping, we get a lot of junk food. I’m not supposed to have soda anymore, but that’s one of my faults. . . . My favorite soda is Coke.

Q: What would be your advice to a kid who’s coming up and wants to be a good student-athlete?

A: Keep a good head, keep a good attitude, be positive and anything’s possible. My coach always tells me with a head on your shoulders that’s very good you’ll play smart and you’ll be smart. In order to be like that, you have to be positive and that’s going to make you a better basketball player.

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