By Hunter Moore ’15

In three years, the girls’ varsity basketball team has had three different coaches. But this year, the Warriors have reason for optimism that the program is heading in the right direction. Under first-year coach Tim Hobbs, the girls have started the season 3-1 with one of the wins against arch-rivals and returning state semi-finalists, Magruder.

On Wednesday Walter Johnson beat the Warriors 49-39 to end Sherwood’s three-game win streak, but the girls, led by senior Nicole Stockinger, sophomore Amanda Allen, and senior Stacey O’Neale, intend on bouncing back against a very good Paint Branch team on Friday night, December 19.

“We know we are playing a good team, and we can’t go out and be down about the loss. We worked our butts off in practice to prepare ourselves for Paint Branch,” said Stockinger. “Paint Branch is likely our toughest competition of the season, and we have full intentions of picking up another win.”

Part of the reason for the success is Allen, who transferred from Good Counsel and has been a major contributor to the Warriors’ scoring output. Allen has been second on the team in scoring, including a 23-point outing versus Magruder, as well as dishing out several assists each game.

“I think we are going to shock the county against Paint Branch,” said Allen. “We are coming together as a team and will return stronger than ever, even after a loss. I will try to lead the team as a point guard. I will handle pressure, get others involved and push the ball up the court with an aggressive mindset.”

The positive outlook is needed against a strong Paint Branch team, who has started the season off with an undefeated record, including a 52-point victory over Northwood. The Panthers entered the season as the No. 1 public school team in the county, according to the Gazette, after going 23-3 last season and returning multiple starters who all averaged scoring in the double digits.