Staff Writer
With the girls’ basketball season starting in December, the team only has a few weeks before Rio Hondo League starts up again.
“I’m excited for our season to start,” head Coach Tammy Lai said. “It’s been a couple of months since our team has played a game so we’re just trying to get familiar with each other and adjust.”
Having a 9-1 record in Rio Hondo and an overall record of 21-7, the team is looking at an even more successful season than last year. The team has been working hard in summer workouts and preseason tournaments, making them faster and stronger.
“We’ve been doing a lot of weight room so what we lack in height we’ll make up with in strength,” junior Kristen Kafkaloff said.
Although the Tigers lost several key seniors including Chloe Chow, Michelle Gin and Caitlin Chan, they still set their sights at becoming Rio Hondo League champions and going far in playoffs. With players such as Elise Takahama, Sophia Hathaway and Lexie Scholtz, they are a formidable team to beat.
“I am really excited for this year just because we have seven returners, so we have a strong foundation for this season,” senior Takahama said. “We went really far last year so it pumps us up and gives us something to look forward”
While many view the team as basketball players, they view themselves as a close knit family. With a majority of the team playing for three years together, the team has developed a deep bond between each and everyone player and coach.
“This team is definitely one of the closest teams I’ve played on and so it’s like a family,” senior Hathaway said. “They support you whenever you need it so whether on the court or off the court we’re always there for eachother.”
What Head Coach Lai has envisioned is a life-long friendship between the team and community to last throughout the season and indefinitely.
“I think that with each season, we have grown and matured as a team,” Lai said. “Everyone knows their role on the team and they do whatever it takes to make each other better everyday.”
The team’s first preseason game will be at Polytechnic School on November 24 at 4:30 p.m. with their first League game taking place at Blair High School at 5:15 p.m.