Carsyn Gilbert believes energy and leadership go hand in hand. “My focus is to be a leader on the floor and keep our energy high,” Gilbert said. “When we play with great energy, we play better as a team, and that often starts with one person setting the tone.”

That mindset has shown as the Lady Tigers’ season has progressed. “The season has been good overall,” Gilbert said. “We had a tough start and dropped some close games early, but lately, we’ve been playing our best basketball and winning quality games.”

Team goals remain clear as postseason approaches. “One of our main goals is to finish high in our district to earn a strong playoff seed, and if we continue to play well, we have a real chance to do that,” Gilbert said. “Another major goal is to advance out of regionals after losing in the first-round last year.”

Defense has been the foundation. “Our biggest strength is defense,” she said. “When scoring has been a challenge, we’ve relied on our defense to keep us in games. That’s something we’ve worked hard at and take a lot of pride in.”

Gilbert fills multiple roles on the floor. “I primarily play shooting guard, but when another guard comes in, I’m comfortable sliding into the 4 position and just filling the role the team needs,” she said.

Offensively, she looks for balance. “I look for open gaps in the defense, especially on the backside where teams tend to shift and overhelp,” Gilbert said. “I also try to get touches in the paint before settling for a shot.”

Her mindset has evolved throughout the season. “Early in the season, I struggled with putting too much pressure on myself,” she said. “Recently, I’ve focused on reminding myself that it’s just a game.”

Confidence remains a priority. “My goal is to stay confident in who I am as a player and maintain a winning attitude no matter the situation,” Gilbert said.

As a senior, her hopes for the team go beyond wins. “I want us to be remembered as the team that finished strong and made a run to state,” she said. “More than anything, I want us to be known as great teammates.”

“My post high school plans are currently undecided.”