With an overall record of 13-5 the North Creek Girls Varsity Basketball team is looking into the window of the postseason. The girls team went on an impressive 11 game winning streak in the middle of their season improving their chances of qualifying the postseason.
“I think that going into the season we knew we had work to do and as a team we have really stepped up. Going into the postseason I am super excited to continue to just go to work and show everyone that we stand for something. I love playoff sports and I think this season we have a great chance to make a statement,” junior Grace Pinder said. Only three games remain before the post season to determine their seeding. “We’re definitely going to make it [playoffs]. I don’t know if our seeding is going to be great,” junior Paige Geller said. The girls are trying to win their remaining games in order to increase their seeding. The team is looking to make a statement this postseason.
However, every team deals with ups and downs during the season. The girls’ struggles are looking to be improved on before the postseason. “We definitely need to improve our hustle and focus level when it comes to game time. Staying consistent with that throughout the game has been a big struggle for us but we have definitely improved as the season progressed,” Pinder said. Although the team has struggled with staying consistent throughout games, they have significantly improved over the season, and their 11 game win streak demonstrates that.
“Our biggest goal going into the playoffs is to hustle and keep up with the teams. We know that we are not always the better basketball team, skill wise but we can compete at any level if we hustle and use our skill to the best of our ability,” Pinder said. Despite some doubts going into the season about the girls basketball team, they have definitely risen to the occasion and proved they are a playoff ready team and can rise to a challenge.
New additions have been added to the team since last season. Jocelyn Tamayo who was recently at Lynwood has come to North Creek and has definitely contributed to her role. “Jocelyn Tamayo has been a huge help this season…and has been helpful to the team, earning a starting spot,” Pinder said. Tamayo is not the only one going unrecognized, Pinder also said “Olivea Armstrong has been solid in her defense just as she has the last three years…and Seirta Bhullar has stepped into the role of consistent offense”. The team has been consistent in all areas around the court. “I think everyones has been stepping up,” junior Madison Mcgill said.
Going into the postseason the team needs a lot of agendas to go well. “We have been sharing the ball on offense well but I think our defense has been stellar. We work on it hard at practice and it has been translating well to the games, especially when they are close or when we miss a lot of shots, our defense keeps us in the game,” Pinder said. One of the team’s strongest abilities is their defense. Their defense will be key going into this postseason.
“We’ve been playing together really well, it’s much more [together],” Geller said. The chemistry has unquestionably been a significant part of their season and success. “We have a lot of success on our team and it comes from everywhere,” Pinder said.
