Senior Savannah Weisman passes to junior Avery Graham at Blake.

by Thomas Fenner ‘24

Despite enduring changes to the coaching staff and switching divisions, girls basketball has begun the season with an impressive 8-2 record. The Warriors suffered their only two losses in the opening game against Whitman on December 5 by a score of 53-31, and fell to Damascus in a tight 30-23 finish on December 13. Since then, the team has won seven straight games, including several blowout finishes.

What makes this start even more remarkable is that the team has had success with a greatly different coaching staff from last season. With the addition of new coaches Tammy Ross and Patricia Hollowell, it has created a new culture for the program. The players have been very complimentary of the new coaching style, and believe these changes have played a major role in the hot start for the Warriors. Senior Taylor Corrothers expressed the importance of communication and believes the coaches have done a great job of implementing this.

“After each game [Ross] gives every player individual note-cards where she assesses our play and gives advice on how to improve,” said Corrothers. “The way she runs practice also has gotten us in shape and focuses on specific skills that demonstrated a need for improvement in the game prior.”

Corrothers spent her offseason recovering from a major knee injury she suffered before her junior season. A torn ACL caused her to have to sit out for her entire junior year, and she also missed the summer and fall league games as well. However, through hard work and discipline, she was able to get cleared before the season started, and earned her way to a starting spot and a leading scorer.

“My preparation was through physical therapy and conditioning.” Corrothers said. “When I was cleared to play basketball with no contact, I practiced shooting and ball handling on my own time.”

Another key contributor so far has been freshman Aubree Thompson, who has made a big impact in her first season with the team. Thompson has served as the main ball handler and facilitator for the Warriors, while also displaying an impressive shooting ability and good leadership.

The team looks to build off their strong record start and continue with the momentum they’ve built over the win streak, gained from the winning start. They will play teams they’ve already beaten such as Springbrook and Blake again down the stretch of the season on February 5 and 9. They also rematch Richard Montgomery and Paint Branch on February 2 and 16, who gave them competitive games earlier in the year.