The women’s varsity basketball team lost 56–23 against Coolidge High School on Tuesday, Dec. 3 in their second game of the season. Despite the loss, the Hoppers persevered and did their best to use what they practiced in their game.
Freshman Jozi McDuffie gained possession from the tip-off to start the game. However, GDS lost the ball and Coolidge scored the first few points.
GDS took a number of shots in the first few minutes but struggled against the Coolidge defense. Once Coolidge had reached a seven–point lead, GDS called their first timeout.
After discussing strategies, freshman Liya Fairfax scored for GDS, bringing the score to 9–2. Senior Evelyn Chen and McDuffie followed with free throws. Despite the team’s fight, GDS was not able to get a lead, finishing the quarter down 15–5.
Freshman Raech McKnight said the team needed to “not rush, find the open person and be more aggressive” in order to challenge Coolidge’s offensive playing style.
Although Coolidge started the second quarter with possession, GDS quickly intercepted the ball and kept it on their side of the court. Fairfax passed to McDuffie, who scored the first basket of the quarter. Unfortunately for GDS, Coolidge solidified their lead by scoring eight baskets in a row.
GDS struggled to rebound the ball after Coolidge missed shots. In interviews with the Bit Players and coaches alike pointed out their rebound struggle as an area that needs improvement. “In practice this week, we’ve been working on really boxing out,” said Chen, who is verbally committed to play basketball at Carleton College.
McDuffie broke Coolidge’s scoring streak with a layup, bringing the score to 31–9, and then went on to score five more points to end the half with a score of 38–14.
When the teams returned to the court, McDuffie once again scored the first point of the quarter. She went for the layup in the first minute but was fouled by the Coolidge defense. She made her free throw, and the team began the third quarter 38–15. The score at the end of the quarter was 48–16.
Driven by the deficit, GDS came together in the fourth quarter to improve their defense. Chen said the team “work[s] really well together.” Ultimately, GDS lost the game 56–23.
“We did a lot of things well, but only in spurts, and you have to do those things consistently well throughout the game when against a good team,” assistant coach Amy Heinzelmann said.
Head coach Pam Stanfield outlined how her goals for the season are tailored to the players’ own hopes. “My aim is to home in on the individual goals that the kids have and help them get to those goals,” she said.
She continued by emphasizing the importance of practicing rebounding and aggressive play to prepare for upcoming conference games and expressed enthusiasm for the future of the women’s basketball program. “We’re excited because we have a young team, and we have a lot of potential,” she said. “I’m looking forward to us growing together as a team.”
The coaches and players agree that the women’s varsity basketball team has amazing spirit and chemistry on and off the court. Stanfield mentioned, “We’re laughing at practice every day.”
Chen backed this up, calling the group “the most funny team.”
The team will play their next game against Sidwell Friends at home on Tuesday, Dec. 10 to kick off their official Independent School League (ISL) conference schedule.