Girls basketball boxes out season

Spring is all about beginnings and endings. As the flowers begin to bloom, winter comes to an end.  And with the end of winter comes the end of winter sports. The Samo girls varsity basketball team had a momentous season, and are looking forward to what’s next in years to come.  They wrapped up their season by ranking third in Ocean League, and winning 15 of the 28 games they played. “This team was very close and that helped them to have a successful season. Several players performed to the best of their ability,” Head Coach Douglas Kim said. They started out their season in November with a win. The girls beat Palisades High School, 52-39. They then continued to play 13 other games over winter break, winning seven of them.  Their first in-season home game was Jan. 10 against Lawndale. Family and friends flooded the North Gym to cheer them on, as they ultimately won 53-38.  Throughout every game, each player brought something different and vital to the team. Although only five players took the court at a time, the team as a whole, performed symbiotically. According to Kim, numerous girls impressed him this season. “There were several players that were very good this year. Lily [Auerbach (’19)] and Iternite [Reed (’20)] had great years, and the seniors like Carmen [Donate (’18)] and Marlene [Gonzalez (’18)] provided great leadership.  I could not be more proud of the seniors on this team. They worked so hard all year and represented the school, family and community with honor and dignity. They got better each game and the addition of Kelsea Hudson [(’19)] and Saezon Watson [(’19)] helped. Additionally, Cassandra Iniguez [(’19)] was really solid as a defender and Hunter Willis [(’19)] became such a dominant force on the boards. Tsering Wolfe [(’21)] was a pleasant surprise as a freshman,” Kim said.  From January to February, the girls played back-to-back against over twenty schools, and made Samo proud with their performance. They practiced day and night, sometimes six days a week, to be the fierce competition they are.  “I think we will be very good next year.  They work very hard and there is a great group of younger players. They come in, contribute right away and bolster an already solid team with a few stars,” Kim said. Although they didn’t win Ocean League or CIF, they accomplished something more. The girls played for each other, and for their love of the sport. They consistently put out great plays. Whether it was a big rival game, or a subdued weeknight, the girls never let up. They overcame every obstacle thrown at them [multiple injuries, sick players, stressful practices] and handled those challenges with strength. It was amazing to see their progress throughout the games, and I have no doubt that this season won’t be one to forget.