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Heather Kearney鈥檚 basketball team probably set the record for the amount of tennis ball bounces in a single day inside of North Myrtle Beach High School.

Once bounce at a time, the North Myrtle Beach girls basketball team focused on winning Tuesday night鈥檚 third-round playoff game against Westwood.

Each bounce of the ball represented adversity. A missed shot here. A poorly timed foul there.

With every bounce, an opportunity to bounce right back.

鈥淎ll day, they have been walking around since practice yesterday with customized tennis balls,鈥� Kearney said. 鈥淲e wanted them to remember that when they faced adversity, like missing free throws and making turnovers, we wanted to instantaneously bounce back from that adversity.鈥�

It was unconventional, but it worked.

The Chiefs knocked off Westwood, 53-42, in front of a jam-packed home crowd to punch the team鈥檚 ticket to next week鈥檚 Class 5A-Division II Lower State championship game. Tuesday鈥檚 performance wasn鈥檛 perfect, but in those moments of difficulty, the Chiefs thought back to their tennis balls.

Senior standout Faith Farmer, who led the Chiefs with 22 points in the win, stood outside of the locker room after the game with her customized tennis ball. It had the team鈥檚 motto, 鈥淟ock In鈥� written on one section. On the other, it had a shiny ring, representing the jewelry she and the team hopes they can bring home to Horry County in just a few weeks.

For Farmer, the tennis ball was a representation of a greater goal.

鈥淲e dribbled them all day in school,鈥� Farmer said. 鈥淲e were going down the hallways with them. It just reminded us of our motto to bounce back. Through these times, we know we鈥檙e going to face adversity. But we just have to focus on each other and bouncing back. We know we have to really lock in and focus in to get what we want.鈥�

The Chiefs did bounce back from adversity throughout Tuesday鈥檚 game, but the outing was a relatively impressive one. Kearney鈥檚 team played standout defense throughout and leaned on Farmer鈥檚 leadership on offense to pile on the points.

Senior Nevaeh Washington had 10 points, as did sophomore Madi Vereen.

鈥淭his whole week, we had to believe in greatness and we had to believe that they had it in them,鈥� Kearney said. 鈥淲e had to believe in everything, because that鈥檚 the first step. This was all mental, having that confidence and belief.

鈥淎t this point in the game, you are what you are. Your offense is what it is. Your defense is what it is. But, it鈥檚 the toughest team with the toughest mindset that will prevail. It鈥檚 the team who wants it the most. The team who doesn鈥檛 waver in the face of adversity is the team that is going to come out on top. It鈥檚 not always the best or most talented. It鈥檚 the team who wants it the most, plays together the most and the team that can persevere and be resilient.鈥�

The Chiefs have been just about flawless this season, their only two losses coming to Class 5A-Division I region opponent Carolina Forest. Game by game, new boxes are being checked off for a 22-win team with aspirations to bring a championship trophy back to the beach.

North Myrtle Beach will face Berkeley in the Lower State finals on Wednesday, March 5, at the Florence Center. A win in that game would send the Chiefs to the Class 5A-Division II state title game on Saturday, March 8.

鈥淚 knew what this team was capable of at the beginning of the season,鈥� Farmer said. "If everybody stepped up, played their role and knocked down big-time shots, I knew we could beat teams like this and win a ring. I鈥檓 really proud of this team and what we鈥檝e accomplished.

鈥淲e just have to lean on each other. We know what we鈥檙e capable of. If we put our trust in each other and everybody plays their roles, we know we can accomplish big things.鈥�