Shoes squeaking, ball bouncing on the gym floor, fans cheering in a packed gym, and rivalries stirring up throughout the conference; it’s that time of the year again The basketball teams are back in season!
This year the WS Basketball program is looking to make statements. The boys’ varsity team is returning from one of their best seasons in recent memory. The girls’ varsity team is returning from a 25-3 season, a district championship, regional final appearance, and a state semifinal appearance. They are trying to build on their past success.
The boys’ team, coming back from a 12-11 season, is looking to show that they aren’t a team to be taken lightly. After getting a new coach this year, the boys are looking to leave a mark. Senior center Johnny Cronin is going to be one of the keys to their success. After being named first team all-conference, Cronin is hoping to build on his game and lead the team the best way that he can. Junior guard Spencer Askew is also going to be a key player in the teams’ journey. After playing behind then senior guards Trier Mortlock, Chris Berry, and Christian Saulino, Askew is looking to be the player to fill that hole of losing those three. Seniors Jack Dunphy and Ryland Mortlock will also look to be guys that the team can turn to when in need of scoring and defense.
“There are no limits for us this season,” said Askew. “There are no words that can describe the things we are going to do this year, the rest of the conference better be ready cause we are coming in swinging.”
The road isn’t going to be an easy one but the boys feel like they can leave a mark in the competitive Patriot Conference.
On the other hand stands the well renowned Girls Varsity basketball team. The team that most people know for producing star Kara Lawson and more recently, Division 1 players like Logan Battle and April Robinson who now play for Georgetown University and Duquesne University. After losing their most consistent scorer in Amy Berglund, the team will look to find a way to fill the hole that they have.
“Losing Burg is sad; she was a big part of the team. But we all have a chance to step up and fill the hole that is there,” said senior Emily Reba.
The team has different weapons in their arsenal: they have a deadly shooter in senior forward Sadie Shroeder, a physical player in Senior guard/forward Alanna Backus, who is looking to get back into playing shape after coming off an ACL injury her junior year, a defensive presence in their junior center Maura D’anna, and solid ball handling in their junior guard Shelby Haynes. This year they also have a returning player, junior Haley Blankinship who played on the team as a freshman, went to south county and returned just in time for her junior and senior year. Overall they have a team in which everyone knows their roles. The team that made a final four appearance last year in the state tournament will be looking to make it to the finals this year.
“It’s not an option to have a bad season,” said senior guard Gabi Carley. “We will not have a bad season; we will capitalize on our success and do our best to reach our ultimate goal.”