Girls' basketball starts the season off right
St. John’s girls’ varsity basketball team has begun another season with success. One of the top teams in the country, they also have some of the strongest players in the WCAC. After winning consecutive WCAC championships the last two years, the team is been working hard to beat the competition again this year.
Coach Jonathan Scribner told The Sabre his vision for this season: “The 2018-19 season looks very bright for the girls’ varsity basketball team. We return four starters from our championship team of a year ago and add some great new talent into the mix for a deep and veteran squad. Along with the always tough WCAC schedule, we have an out-of-conference schedule filled with nationally ranked teams. It will be a challenging season, but we are ready for it!”
The team is already off to a great start. With a 79-37 win against Good Counsel on Nov. 29, the girls set a strong precedent for the rest of the season. On Dec. 1, the Cadets had a another successful game against National Christian, beating them 64-44. On Tuesday, the team beat Archbishop Carroll at home 68-4.
Senior Malu Tshitenge-Mutombo gave a recap of the team’s performances: “I thought we did well these past few games, but there’s still things we need to improve on throughout the season. But overall, I thought we set a great tone on how the season will be, and we’ll continue to grow and get better.”
“We’re trying to win our third championship in a row,” said Alex Cowan ’19. Although every season comes with good competitors, she said the team plans on earning the WCAC championship title by putting in hard work and dedication.
Moreover, Cowan said another factor in their success is team cooperation. “Our team chemistry is stronger this year for sure. We have a lot of fun playing with each other.” She said this is key for their success, for as team members they all depend upon each other to reach their individual and team goals.
Cowan also discussed what it means to be a senior on the team this year. “There’s a big difference as a senior. I feel like I’ve stepped into more of a leadership position.” As with any sport, strong leadership is important, whether during games or practice. By having talented and dedicated senior players, the other team members have role models to look up to and standards to adhere by in the future.
This weekend, the Cadets are playing in the the Art Turner Memorial showcase at Paul VI. Friday night they face Edison High School, and on Saturday they take on USA TODAY’s #2 team Christ the King.
