After weeks of waiting and anticipation, girls’ varsity basketball returned for the month of February.  The team consists of ten hardworking and excited players.  

These high-risk student-athletes originally followed a virtual home schedule as one of the safety protocols to keep them and everyone surrounding them safe, but have since been allowed to return to school.  Each Tuesday, players set up an appointment to be tested for Covid on campus.  Mask mandates, along with social distancing measures, have been put into place to further ensure safety. 

With a fast start to the season, players had to be ready to step onto the court with full effort.  

“Considering we were unable to get together as a team to have a preseason, I did a lot of training on my own.  I did a lot of conditioning, shooting, and ball handling every morning.  Working out often helped me stay in shape heading into the season.  It has been and will continue to be very different this year, but we are ready for the challenge and will come out stronger than before,” said sophomore Kate Schmitz.  

The squad took on Hicksville on Feb. 13 and managed to win convincingly, 52-25.  They had a schedule of eight games throughout February, with games both at home and away.  Being able to compete and play full-time games is a big step up for our student-athletes, especially after bleak expectations earlier in the year.  For many of the girls, this was their varsity debut.  

Port Washington’s atmosphere has been beyond supportive in building players up and preparing for the season during this difficult time.  Players were excited to be back on the court, and the fans were eager to watch.  Fans are  not yet allowed in gyms, but were able to  watch games on live-streaming platforms through the school’s social media accounts. 

 “The team is very grateful for everything the school has done for us and doing what is necessary to get us back on the court.  We are ready to have a breakout season and show that we can come out of this stronger as a team.  It is very motivational to get the opportunity to play sports again.  We will grow as individuals, as a team, and work towards our goals,” said sophomore Natalie DeMeo.  

New additions to the team have made a significant impact on the expected success of the team.  There were no playoffs this year.  It was reported that this was to prevent more exposure to other players and coaches than necessary.  Although it was not what players wanted to hear, many are happy to have the opportunity to step on the court, whether it be for one final time in their senior year or their first time as a freshman.

 “My teammates and I are looking forward to a safe and fun season.  Due to COVID-19, the adjustments we are making are challenging us, but they make our team stronger and push us to work harder.  Simply, we are just looking forward to a great next few weeks of playing the sport we enjoy!” said sophomore Lily Ventura before the season.  

All players have had positive attitudes and have been completely cooperative with the new guidelines.  The Schreiber community as a whole can be proud of the student-athletes representing the town.  They play with pride, respect, and tremendous  effort.  These players have shown strength in the face of adversities and have bright futures ahead of them.