In an early February game at Colby, Cloud County’s rebounding and defense were struggling. A loss to the Trojans could have placed a real damper on the T-Bird season, but Erb came off the bench to provide a much-needed spark. She finished the game with six rebounds, a blocked shot, and two points, and the T-Birds finished with a 76-75 win.

The 6-0 Erb, who played for Otis-Bison High School (between Great Bend and Hays), gives the following advice to players coming off the bench: “The mental preparation has to start way before the game even starts, like on the bus ride you have to start thinking about what team you’re playing and who their best players are.”

Then, from the tip-off, Erb watches which opponents are hot that night and which aren’t. She also must keep track of which plays and breaks the T-Birds are running. Erb says that even though a reserve is not always in the action, “You have to be mentally prepared all of the time.”