The UHS girls Varsity Basketball team is nearing the end of their season holding a record of 7 wins and 5 losses. With only seven games remaining. The girls are working together diligently and preparing to finish off their season strong.
After school the coach focuses on practicing as if they were in an actual game to get them ready. “In practice I focus on the game time so when I’m practicing I play how I do in real games,” said senior Jasmine Fajardo. Not only does he make the girls physically practice basketball but he also makes sure the girls learn from each game so they can continue improving throughout the season. “I make sure they are locked in and review all of the plays before the game to ensure that they are ready and have a clear mindset and bring the win,” stated Coach Rashad Russell.
Following the games themselves, Coach Russell reflects with the team learn from their successes and mistakes. “We talk about the game after and talk about mistakes and things we can improve on, we make up solutions during practices,” said Russell. This lifts the girls spirits, putting them in a positive head space for practice and improving their performances for the next game. “I have learned that you can never give up and if you don’t want to win the game more than the other team it can make or break the team’s performance” stated junior Gabriela Castellanos.
The team works especially well together due to their bonding on and off the court. “We spend almost 6 days of a week practicing and then have activities in which we can create relationships between each other,” stated Russell. The girls have grown extremely close over the course of the season and these friendships help build trust while playing. “My biggest strength on the court is knowing what to do and helping guide my teammates if they are confused during the game,” said Castellanos.
