Coming off a successful 2022-2023 season with an 11-8 record, the varsity girls basketball team looks to build off of their success in the 2023-2024 season. Led by Head Coach Quinn O’Brien and Assistant Coach Judy Bailey, the girls are aiming to develop and improve, especially after having no seniors last season.
Although the team retained a large number of girls, they still are welcoming new players. “While we brought everyone back, we’re somehow very young,” Coach Quinn said. “We have three Middle Schoolers, five underclassmen, and one new junior. It’s like starting all over. We need to work on execution and make sure we all know what we’re doing.”
Despite the youth in this team’s roster, the girls’ ability should not be overlooked. “We have a lot of girls with talent and potential,” Coach Bailey said. “We may be small, but we’re mighty, and we’re going to surprise a lot of teams this season.”
To get to that goal, the team has worked on building their younger players’ confidence and has focused on replicating game scenarios. On the offensive end of the court, the girls have placed a focus on developing their plays and looking for the open player. Defensively, the team has worked on their footwork and pressuring the ball to force turnovers.
However, one challenge in reaching this goal was a lack of playable girls. The team has suffered injuries, with girls out with concussions, twisted ankles, and various other injuries. In the past week, the team has only had two practices in which they could scrimmage five-on-five.
Yet, that didn’t stop the girls from bringing hard work, effort, and tenacity to their season-openers. The girls began their season on the road at Taft School. The Rhinos held on to a slight lead throughout the game, typically by only a few possessions. The Wyverns began to find their groove, with sophomore guard Samaria Gonzalez heading the offensive effort with 14 points. In the end, the girls lost 40-38. Although the girls lost, this still shows improvement from last season, where the girls fell to Taft 63-34.
The girls then prepared for their next game against Williston Northampton. They were hungry for a win, especially after coming off a thrilling victory last season. Throughout the game, the Wyverns brought their energy. Gonzalez contributed on the offensive end with 26 points, joined by senior Co-captain guard Aashni Patel who racked up 14 points. The girls came out with an impressive victory, 60-49.
These opening performances show that the girls are sure to succeed in the rest of their season, which can help them reach their goal of making the playoffs. Also sure to help them with this goal are their excellent coaches and reliable, influential leaders in senior Co-captain Olivia Stevens and Patel. “I think as a captain, the goal is to keep the team positive and in good spirits,” Patel said. “We have the postseason on our minds. I feel as long as we stay together and work as a team, that’ll push us to the postseason in the best way possible and with the greatest mindset.”
To develop a better mindset, the coaches have emphasized the importance of growth and a strong team dynamic. “We are not trying to focus on results, but instead every day we are getting a little bit better,” Coach Quinn said. “We replicate game scenarios over and over again to make sure we get it right and hope that will translate to the game. If we can be better tomorrow than we were today, then regardless of the result, that is all we can hope for.”
The girls look forward to the KITs on Friday, Dec. 15, where they will face off against Hyde School. We wish the girls luck as they are sure to succeed in the coming months.
