Girls Basketball Season Comes to a Close

Girls+Basketball+tips+off+against+The+Valley+School%2C+a+team+that+traveled+from+Australia.+

Photo Courtesy of Helen Jackson

Girls Basketball tips off against The Valley School, a team that traveled from Australia.

Scarlett Song

Despite multiple injuries leaving some out for the season, the Greenhill Varsity Girls Basketball team is moving into the counter season with four wins in a row against The Trinity Valley School, The Episcopal School of Dallas, The Fort Worth Country Day and The Hockaday School.

The girls team is coached by Head Coach of Varsity Girls Basketball, Darryn Sandler, who has been coaching the team for 20 years and also played basketball growing up. He previously coached in high school and college as well as the Freshman Boys Basketball team, a team that no longer exists.

Sandler thinks that some challenges this season included having a large team and dealing with many injuries among his players. Four girls are currently dealing with injuries, with two players out for the season. Players are now having to step up and fill new roles with SPC approaching soon.

“The injured girls all play primary roles on the team, and it throws off the dynamic of the team, disturbing the natural rhythm,” Sandler said.

As someone out for the season, senior Emily Quinn says she has stepped into a new position of supporting the team from the sidelines, and mentoring younger teammates during practices. Although she is disappointed, since it is her last season on the team, she says it has given other people on the team a chance to step into new roles.

According to Quinn, the team has been able to push through these challenges due to the strong bond shared between teammates.

Freshman Jin Huang, on the other hand, said that it was hard to fit in at first, being the only freshman on the team.

“The girls have been playing together longer, but the seniors are all supportive and show great leadership,” Huang said.

Senior Lexie Stone says one of the main challenges is playing tough teams that have been playing together for longer.

Even though they face challenges, the team has formed a tight bond that helps them overcome those problems.

Junior Sibelle Zambie says that everyone always puts the team first. They are all bonded on and off the court, which is “something you won’t find in many other teams,” Zambie says.

Zambie mentions how Sandler has contributed immensely to team morale.

“He is going to give you confidence, but he is also going to hold you accountable,” said Zambie.  “He always encourages us to love the game and love each other. He puts so much effort into the team and spends 24/7 preparing us for games. The team is very grateful for him and all that he does for the program.”