By Hannah Chadwick
“Not always with consistency but always with PRIDE,” Head Coach McClary exclaims. With this year’s circumstance, the girls basketball team has downsized majorly in players, and played some hard teams. However, even with these rough patches, the team has never given up and has never stopped working as hard as possible.
This season has been different from any other for the Lady Knights. Due to Covid, the team has lost half of their players, plus they experienced a coaching staff change last year so as a team their main goal is just to build up foundations. They have had unfortunate losses and the season has been strenuous due to having a small team of just seven players. When asked about this year’s circumstances “Coach Mac” explains, “It’s been difficult, we have a lot of inexperienced players and have to ask players to compete when they’re exhausted.” It has been a hard season for the Lady Knights, but through it they have been learning, taking away what every game has taught them, and continuing to lay foundations and progress as a team.
With continuous goals in mind, the Lady Knights have already started progressing! From the beginning of the season Coach Mac has said that “We aren’t very skilled fundamentally but we have a great group of ladies with unlimited potential.” Now, that potential is starting to lead to progression. The ladies have improved in their passing, dribbling, talking, one-on-one defending, and offensive attacking! Their progress as a team has made both their coach and themselves proud.
Captain Maya Kostov states, “We had some girls not familiar with basketball starting in varsity games, and they have done a great job adjusting to that! I think we’ve also started working together!” The Lady Knights are proud to start seeing progression, and the progress they have accomplished is all because of their commitment.
The team has had goals all season, to become better and make each other proud. Due to this they have had unfailing commitment to their sport, even with such hard circumstances. Coach Mac explains, “Every day these ladies show up, their commitment to Knights basketball is unmatched. I’m most proud of the commitment they have all made to each other, the school, and to the coaching staff.” The Knights have never given up or stopped trying even when hit with obstacles, and that is what makes them a great team. They have made goals and never stopped working towards them, making everyone around them proud.
Maya adds, “Basketball means nothing if you don’t show up to practice and put in the work. Our players do that.” Now, at the end of the season, the Tempe Prep team may not have the highest winning streak but they do have the most commitment, the hardest working ethic, and the best hearts in the entire state.
Nearing the end of the season, the ladies are still working hard and using the progress they have gained to their full advantage. They still show up every day and have two more games left to maximize their potential. So let’s give it up for the Lady Knights basketball team and wish them the best of luck in their last few games!