The KO girls varsity basketball team has finished their season on a strong note, building team chemistry and developing crucial skills throughout the course of the season.
Led by Head Coach Quinn O’Brien, the Wyverns struggled to find their groove at the beginning of the year. After losing three of their strongest players, this young squad was unsure of how they would fare against tough competition in the Founders League and beyond. However, the team was able to prosper, winning games many didn’t expect them to have won. “This season has gone better than, I believe, the players anticipated at the beginning of the season,” Coach O’Brien said.
Early-season struggles and tough competition plagued the Wyverns in December, as they went 1-4, losing to Taft, Williston Northampton, Choate, and Westimister, before defeating Berkshire 61-46. At that point in the year, the squad knew that they had to turn their season around, and they found the perfect opportunity at the annual Kingswood Invitation Tournament.
On the night of Friday, Dec. 17, fans packed Hewett Gym to attend a much anticipated matchup against the Frederick Gunn School in the quarterfinals of the KITs. The Wyverns made quick work of the Highlanders with the final score being 46-38.
The next day, the Wyverns matched up against Wilbraham & Monson Academy in a game where many expected the squad to struggle against a far more experienced roster. However, the team was able to secure a victory in a nailbiter, winning 53-52 in the final seconds from a free throw by sophomore guard Olivia Stevens. Unfortunately, the girls lost in the championship against the Holderness School, but Stevens and fellow sophomore guard Georgia Louis were named to the All-KIT team.
“There have been many memories, but I would say that the KIT stands out for me personally,” Coach O’Brien noted. “To be able to play a 7:00 night game in front of a packed crowd and win and then, the following day, to win a one point game against a very strong team in order to advance to the championship game was a highlight of this season.”
Following the KITs, the squad moved forward into January and February, amassing a 4-3 record throughout those two months before their senior day. On Wednesday, Feb. 23, seniors small forward and power forward Megan Murphy, guard and forward Caroline Dawson, point guard Natalia Correa and guard and forward Lindsay Bailey were honored before a matchup against Suffield Academy, which the Wyverns unfortunately lost.
“We unfortunately fell to a talented Suffield Academy team,” Dawson said. “Though we lost, we were able to distribute the ball well having almost eight different players with points on the board, and we gave it our 100% effort for the entire 32 minutes, never letting up, which we were all really proud of.”
Despite a wild season, the Wyverns were able to build upon a strong basketball foundation, which they hope to use in the coming years. “Throughout the season, their confidence grew, and their awareness of how competitive they could be against the best teams grew,” Coach O’Brien added. “While we don’t run a lot of offensive action and allow the players the opportunity to play freely and make plays on their own, their confidence and ability to make plays has increased over time and everyone has found and settled into their own roles.”
In the end, the Wyverns finished with a record of 11-12, achieving many goals through hard work, team chemistry, and clutch play.
