Four wins, three losses. That’s the girls basketball league record as of Jan. 25. The girls basketball team has improved astoundingly this year. After struggling to even win a game all these years, why the sudden success?

Senior guard Veasna Samol says it’s because “We’re more like a team now.” Everyone now equally contributes to bettering the team. Samol, who averages 9.7 points per game and 3.1 rebounds, said that since the seniors on the team have improved and now that some of the juniors are stepping up they’re more like a team. She also said that the new additions to the team like junior power forward Alijah Turner who averages 10.3 points per game and 7.3 rebounds,  from Hanford High have been really good for the team.

Turner, who came from a basketball team that was ranked 27th in the state, has been a big part of the team’s success. She joined the team after her move to Stockton. Her step dad talked to the coach, and after attending a few practices was able to play in the games. She said that she enjoys playing on our basketball team because the teams over here are evenly matched, whereas in Hanford one team was good and all the others were mediocre.

“I like it better over here because it’s more competitive.”

Junior guard Miranda Miner, who has an average of nine points per game and six rebounds, said that the team’s recent success is due to the fact that there is more communication and chemistry.

“We’re being smarter with how we play.”

She also acknowledges Turner for the team’s success. “Alijah’s really good, she’s a big help to our team.”

Her faith in her team has grown as the team’s success has grown.

“We just have to get our mind set that we’re going to win.”

Already the team has won 11 games overall, more than they’ve won in six of the last seven seasons. In three of those seasons the team did not even combine for 11 wins.

But win or lose, Miner always has a positive outlook on playing the game. “It’s more fun to win, I mean nobody wants to lose, but we have fun either way.”

Samol also keeps a positive attitude no matter what, “I don’t go in the game over confident, I’m humble about it. We just all look at each other and say all we have to do is our best and we’ll be fine whether we win or lose.”