High expections for women’s basketball
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Amanda Albright
December 16, 2009
Filed under Sports
When asked about their expectations for this season, the entire women’s basketball team agreed that winning the state championship is the number one goal. They won’t accept anything less than that.
The stars were aligned for the creation of the determined and well-rounded basketball team this year. They value two types of work: hard work and teamwork.
The players consider senior Monet Tellier one of the hardest workers of the group.
“She has a lot of talent but still works hard to be better. She is always positive, and always pushes me to be the best I can be,” said junior Katrina Allen.
The team also benefits from the natural leadership of senior Shenine Dulin, who is also vice president of the school’s student congress.
“Shenine is really dedicated. She’s very responsible. She helps the team meet their goals, even if we have a bad practice she encourages us,” said Allen.
But seniors aren’t the only ones on the court. Defensive powerhouses come in the forms of juniors Chaylia Coleman and Kayla Forney. The girls are polar opposites in height, Coleman standing at 6’2” and Forney at 5’3’’, but both are equally strong and important for the team. Most players agree that Forney is one of the most encouraging players, and the two girls are known for their sense of humor and friendly disposition.
Katrina Allen is also a junior on the team, and is known for being an excellent team player.
“She isn’t selfish on the court. Even if she has a wide open shot she’ll pass the ball to our best shooter, because that’s what is best for the team,” says sophomore Sandra Knox.
In addition, much of the team is comprised of sophomores. Jaymee Fisher-Davis, Aaliyah Kilpatrick, and Sandra Knox are some of the promising sophomores on the varsity team this season. These underclassmen are just as committed to success as the older players are.
“All of us work hard,” said Kilpatrick.
Each team member is trying to achieve her dreams of winning the state championship a reality, resulting in countless sacrifices along the way. The women devote nearly 20 hours a week to basketball, sometimes more. To say the team works hard is almost an understatement.
All that time together makes for a strong and close-knit team. The girls bond over bus rides, prayer before games, silly times in the locker room, pre-game rituals, and even the running given as punishment during practices.
“On the weekends we might go over to someone’s house or see a movie. It’s like a family,” said Knox.
Before games we eat Japanese food or Subway and always listen to music to get a little hype,” added Coleman.
The girls expect Butler to be their biggest competition this year. They will face the Bulldogs on December 17 and January 29.
“I think we will go farther than we’ve ever been before,” said Coleman.
And she’s right. With a perfectly crafted team that bonds over sesame chicken and long hours, success is almost inevitable, with or without the title of state champions.
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