Alone they can do little. Alone they lack the skills to win the game. But when they are brought together, when each member of the girls varsity basketball team puts 100 percent of their individual talent into the game, that’s when they can win.

One of the seniors dribbles down the court. She is ready to shoot, but the ball is stolen by the other team. A silent hope that one of her teammates can get the ball back crosses her mind. The rest of her team is thinking the same thing. One of the juniors on the team manages to steal the ball back and score.
            

“We have younger players who have skills,” senior Angelique Wilson said. “Young talent.”
             

Unlike previous years, the team now has a winning streak. Wilson credits it to the natural talent of the younger members on the team. She notes that the team wouldn’t be what it is without the juniors. So far this season, the team has won five games which is a dramatic improvement from previous years.

Before this year, the varsity team played as individuals, according to senior Megan Gaitan. But this year, they play as a cohesive team. Everyone works harder in their practice time to improve their best skills. The individual team members work to gain mastery of their finesse. Each girl works with others so that everyone can get stronger.

“We talk more” junior Amanda Clave said.

Others on the team agree with her, “there’s working more as a team,” junior Destiny Aho said.  

This new personal dedication to the team is even reaching members of the junior varsity team. “JV has potential. I think they’ll improve more,” Wilson said.

Aho recognizes that the seniors are incredibly cooperative, and they work with the new members of the team in order to help them improve. In any team situation, not just basketball, there is a need for the older and more experienced to pass on their expertise to the newbies.  

Wilson, along with the rest of the team, is confident that next year when the current juniors lead the team, their record will be even better.