Girls basketball: Deer Park going big this season

The Deer Park Lady Deer won their second district championship in three years last season, with their only district loss to Dobie in the second round, but they're not happy, or content, not by a long shot. To get in the playoffs and not advance, it's like a slap in the face," Deer Park coach Theresa White "Those things are motivating us, but also we just feel like even in our district, we're coming out winning district championships and even our district opponents don't respect us. The Lady Deer started slow the last three seasons, then steadily improved in time to excel in district, but with seven players back and some talented newcomers, White's looking for a faster start. [...] the pressure isn't there for her to do as much because people are going to have to stop Bri and the rest as well. Senior point guard Lyndsie LeBlanc is expected to lead the offense. Abby Hawthorne and Michelle Linton, a left-handed sophomore, are the key newcomers, and Linton and Hernandez, along with Devon Weldon, who's coming back from injury, bring the speed.