The girls basketball team is winning with six wins and five losses for their current season. Despite the challenges they faced with their small roster for multiple years they have been able to hold their own thus far in the season.
The challenges of low interest, player eligibility, and roster size are impacting the team’s ability to practice and play in a game consistently.
Nalani Joseph, a freshman guard, expressed exhaustion due to the lack of players available to practice after school.
“It’s very tiring and annoying because we have like seven people, and sometimes we don’t really have seven people at practice,” Joseph said.
Ms. Trezza explained that the team has faced this before. “The roster was pretty small last year, we only had seven players, and this year we have eight. So our roster has grown.”
“Though the limited number of players affects our practices because we don’t have even ten people to run offense versus defense. And it affects us in games because if people have conflicts, then we potentially have to forfeit.”
Trezza says her current roster consists of two freshmen, a few sophomores, and two juniors. But currently no seniors are actively playing.
“The lack of players to work with causes the team to get upset when a play isn’t run correctly. We get a little frustrated once things are not done correctly, and then we don’t have a height advantage or a big roster to sub out girls that are tired.”
The requirements to join a Public Schools Athletic League team is to have 90% attendance for each marking period, a minimum of 10 credits (excluding physical education), and pass 5 credit-bearing classes including gym.
The team is trying its best to influence other students to try the sport. “We tried to influence girls that want to play, even if they’re not good or new to this sport.”
Aleena Johnson, a sophomore center on the team, complained that ineligibility is the reason for the shortage. Johnson said, “We had one practice where there was only four of us, and that can set the team back from doing anything just because we don’t even have five people to be able to practice plays or anything.”
Despite the multiple challenges, the team has been fighting against the odds. Johnson said, “I actually like the energy at home games. Those are always my favorites because everybody’s just so supportive.” She also loves working with the upperclassmen because they’re supportive and give her constructive criticism.
The players not only support each other, but also their coach Ms. Trezza has been doing her best with what she’s working with. Joseph mentioned, “She’ll make sure they get to work and that nobody’s like playing around and that we can keep it up so that when other people come back, then it’s easier for everyone to just come together.”
Trezza added, “I think they’re doing a great job. A lot of them have never played basketball before, so they’re learning and they’re learning quickly. And then the people who have played are being leaders and helping and we’re doing good.”
Joseph wants possible newcomers to know that there’s always help for those who need it, commenting on the upperclassmen assisting anyone who needs it. “It’s actually cool to know their perspective and then their opinions of the game, and it helps us to learn in the future once we get older and become upperclassmen. To help and assist the younger generation that is coming up.”
