This year’s Selma High girls’ basketball team has had a season consisting of 9 wins and 9 losses. If this season for these girls was put into a few words, it would be determined, committed, and united.
Along with challenging games through their season, the girls also have a new head coach this year, Coach Lopez.
“I have coached all my life in Houston, Texas,” explained Coach Lopez. “This is my 20th year of coaching and I have coached from junior high to high school.”
With a new head coach, this meant learning a new system of basketball as well as creating a good bond between coach and players. For the team, this wasn’t much of a challenge as many feel that their bond with one another is already so close, almost like family.
“One of the team’s strongest traits is being able to have fun while playing,” senior Kennedi Carrasco added. “Just not always taking everything so seriously but still playing to our full potential at the same time.”
Carrasco has played basketball since fifth grade. Carrasco has explained how the season has had its ups and downs but nonetheless, has been a fun and memorable one. As it has been such a fun season for the players, their love for this sport has been visible to those observing their games as well.
“We can be up by 20 or down by 20 and we will continue to work hard and fight till the last buzzer,” Coach Lopez added. “I love the fact that they just don’t ever quit.”
The team’s perseverance has also been one of their strongest traits throughout the season as they have never put their heads down, but continue to push themselves and each other.
“The games that we’ve been playing aren’t easy games, but we always give our all no matter the outcome in the end,” explained senior Daviana Chavez.
Chavez is another member of the team who has played all four years and has been playing basketball since she was in third grade. Through her perspective of the season, Chavez shared some of the same thoughts of how the team bond has benefited them through the season. Chavez explained how her teammates push her to do her best as, no matter the outcome, she always looks forward to seeing them at the end of the day.
Another reason why the girls on this team push each other is because they all share a common goal: making it to the playoffs. Making the playoffs would show where all of their hard work got them in return.
Coach Lopez explained how some of her core values as a coach are to be committed and for players to be coachable. With the team showing these traits already, Coach Lopez hopes the girls can accomplish their goal of going into the playoffs.
Nonetheless, Coach Lopez has explained how proud she is already of this group of girls for what they have accomplished through this season.
“I want to have fun and enjoy the last few games that I have as a Bear,” stated Chavez. “Also to try and inspire younger girls to try the sport and enjoy it as much as I do.”
“As a senior I want to get lots of fun memories with the teammates and coaches,” Carrasco also explained.
As players themselves, both Carrasco and Chavez have been enjoying this season and all that they have reached so far.
