The freshman girls team walked into the gym on Feb. 3 with both a mix of nerves and hope. They’ve been working hard all season, and with the help of a few junior varsity players they were surely expecting something major to occur. The JV players don’t replace the freshman players on the court, instead they motivate and stand beside them to support them every step of the game. Yet, with so much pressure against Essex Tech the freshman weren’t sure what to expect.
Warm-ups began nearly an hour before the game was scheduled to begin, and the mood on the court was immediately shifted. The JV players didn’t act superior or distant, instead it was like they were all a part of a big team. The JV players helped the freshman with their confidence and stance when positioning to shoot the ball. Their presence was surely a significant attribute to why the freshman girls were so eager to start the game.
Once the game started, everything felt real. The girls played with more intensity and energy. Whenever somebody hesitated to shoot, teammates on the bleachers and sidelines shouted encouraging words, and the ball swished through the net. Each moment like this showed how much stronger they were together. Not just by the JV players being there to contribute into the game, but also their words of encouragement throughout the whole game.
By the beginning of the last quarter, even though the scoreboard wasn’t in their favor, the team refused to give up. They played with aggressiveness until the very last second, and when the final buzzer sounded they had lost.
Yet, no one had any negative feedback for the game. Since in the end it wasn’t about losing the game, it was about learning, bonding, and playing the game together as one true team.
