Basketball Girls Grind During Pre-Season

She sprints down from the other side of the court while dribbling the ball.

​Right before half court two defenders try to trap her, but she breaks the press immediately after. Exhausted yet determined, she passes the two defenders. Her teammates yell in excitement. With a clean euro-step, she shoots the ball into the hoop. The move warrants a foul and her teammates grow even louder as they shout, “And one!”
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The girls’ basketball is currently preparing for the up-coming season. Their goal is to maintain an undefeated record. To achieve this goal, the girls workout by running laps and lifting weights regularly. Some put in practice on their own time, constantly fine-tuning their skills. 

“During preseason, for the time we aren't at school I go to the gym and practice my shots and dribbling moves with my dad,” Jayda Reece said.

Close-knit and supportive, the girls always encourage their teammates to bring their best, even when someone falls behind. Every day their limits are pushed by the people around them. 

“Preseason helps me accomplish my skills as a basketball player and helps me keep me in shape before the season. I prefer pre-season because it helps me gain more information and work out more and to prepare myself for the season to come,” Serenity Castillo said.

Practicing during pre-season is one of the most important tasks to fulfill. It helps the team mentally and physically prepare for the games, and any competition. The coaches are obviously a big part in helping them, too. They’ll put the girls in their place when they do something wrong but they don’t do it to be mean: they do it in order to help the girls achieve their maximum abilities in the up-coming season. 

~Janine Alapag- ​Staff Writer