Girls basketball dribbles toward early season success

It may be getting cold outside, but that has not stopped a number of Schreiber winter sports teams from getting ready for incredible seasons.  The girls varsity basketball team is an important team to follow in the coming months.  After a successful season last year, the girls are looking forward to even more success this season.  Although the team lost a number of seniors last year, new underclassmen and returning players are combining to make the team capable of doing very well. 

Last season, the team had an impressive record, culminating in a playoff run.  Although the team lost to the defending state champion, Baldwin, in the quarterfinals, last year was an overall success.  At the beginning of last season, the team lost their first three games.  However, they showed astounding resilience as they battled their way back to a 9-9 record just before senior night.  The quarterfinal game was a battle, as they played Baldwin.  The resilience the girls displayed last season indicates their great potential for an even more successful season this year.   

This season, the team’s starting five consists of seniors Lilly Conway and Kate Shanahan, junior Lily Dell, and freshmen Natalie Demeo and Kate Schmitz.  They are coached by Head Coach Trottier and Assistant Coach Lammers.  In the team’s season opener, they defeated Great Neck by a score of 45-32.  Shanahan starred in this game, putting up 14 points and 10 rebounds.  Although the team lost their second game of the season to Herricks, 48-46, the game was hard fought and a battle until the final seconds. 

Team bonding is a major focus of the girls this season.  The team lost several seniors from last year, but the underclassmen are promising, and they will hopefully be able to fill those missing roles. 

“The dynamic of the team is amazing.  We all love each other and have a good time even when practice is tough.  We are possibly the most athletic group of girls put together for the basketball teams compared to previous years.  We are all diverse in our skills other than basketball, so the fact that we can come together and play a very solid game is amazing,” said Dell.

The team as a whole is new, but extremely promising.  The athleticism of the team is expected to propel them to new heights and hopefully achieve many new accomplishments.

“Although we don’t have many returning varsity players, we are all getting to know each other by learning each others’ strengths and how to work together with one another,” said Shanahan.  “We plan to be doing team bonding exercises outside of school and communicating well.  Team chemistry is one of the most important aspects of a sport and being successful.  We believe the team has a lot of potential, and we are looking forward to a great season.” 

As the season progresses, the future looks bright for this group of girls.  With the leadership of the upperclassmen and the incoming talent of the underclassmen, the team has everything it needs to succeed. 

“Our goal for this season is hopefully to have a long playoff run, but most importantly, to improve and get better as the season keeps going.  We lost five seniors from last year, but the underclassmen are good enough to keep the momentum going,” said junior Remi Haas. 

The team values their success when it comes to wins and losses, but they also value overall improvement and team bonding.  With the necessary elements for success, and a number of crucial games coming up, the girls varsity basketball team is definitely a team to watch.