Believe in Me

Clay Driscoll is hired by the Oklahoma school system to coach basketball, but he immediately clashes with Ellis Brawley, the town's most influential man. Brawley, the great-great grandson of the founder and owner of the town bank, has already maneuvered to place another man in charge of the boys' team. With that move, Driscoll is relegated to coaching the girls, setting the stage for a bitter power struggle within the town.

Shortly after his arrival, Clay learns his job is not to coach the boys but the girls' team. He feels crushed and miscast, questioning his future in basketball in a town ruled by Brawley's influence. He must decide whether to fight for the program or walk away.

In his first days, Clay imposes the discipline he would use with boys, expecting the same intensity from the girls. He is bewildered by their different rhythms and reactions, and the team looks more like a gym class than a basketball program. The mismatch underscores the gap between his training and the reality of coaching girls.

Jean, Clay's wife, offers steady support and insight. She helps him see the players' strengths, fears, and motivations beyond technique. Her guidance begins to shift his approach and open the door to a more empathetic coaching style.

As the season progresses, Clay's drive becomes infectious and the girls begin to accept his demands. They commit to hard work, slowly building better fundamentals and a new sense of pride. The team starts to believe they can compete at a higher level.

At the end of the first year, Clay is offered a chance to assist a boys' team elsewhere, but he chooses to stay with the Lady Cyclones. He senses a deeper purpose in building something lasting with this group. This decision marks a turning point for both his career and the program's future.

In the second year, the Lady Cyclones show marked improvement and become a tough team to beat. Their cohesion and discipline earn respect around town and beyond. They begin to change the town's perception of girls' basketball.

Brawley intensifies his campaign, using the school board to undercut Driscoll whenever possible. He views the team's success as a threat to his power and uses the district's politics to complicate decisions. The conflict becomes the central obstacle the team must overcome.

Clay and Jean's marriage comes under strain as the battle with the board drags on. They must navigate tensions between professional duty and personal commitment, striving to keep family and team from unraveling. Their shared fight to reform the system becomes a catalyst for healing their relationship.

The community rallies behind Driscoll and the girls, offering support, encouragement, and a renewed sense of pride. Local voices, fans, and families stand with the team through meetings, messages, and collective effort. This backing helps sustain the players during tough times and strengthens the program.

The Lady Cyclones make a determined run for the state playoffs, overcoming financial and organizational hurdles along the way. Their perseverance, teamwork, and growth under Clay's leadership prove the program's merit. The pursuit itself becomes a local beacon of hope during the drought-stricken era.

By the end of the second year, the team and its coach have transformed the town's sports culture and restored belief in girls' basketball. Driscoll decides to continue coaching, solidifying a lasting legacy for the program. The Lady Cyclones' journey leaves a lasting imprint on the school and community.