by Liz Fleming and Alyssa Berding

Since the beginning of August, girls basketball has been rigorously training for their upcoming season. After some intense pre-season conditioning and numerous open gyms, the girls season has finally kicked off. Tryouts were held at the end of October, with the roster being finalized by the beginning of November. The girls practice six days a week, from 6:30-8:30 pm Monday through Friday, and also on Saturday mornings.

Head coach Richard Harris has high expectations for the team. His practices are known for being structured and intense. The girls work very hard in practice, and their efforts showed in their first scrimmage against San Lorenzo Valley. The girls played outstanding defense as they defeated SLV and held them to a score of 75-12. The girls faced their first pre-season games in the Glen Ventura Classic hosted at Pioneer High School. In their first tournament game against Oak Grove, the girls once again dominated the court. They held Oak Grove to a score of 68-30. Sophomore Jazzmyne Ross and freshman AJ Newton led the team offensively as Valley’s top scorers. In the second round of the tournament, they beat the tournament’s host team, Pioneer High School with a score of 56-39. Newton led with 22 points while senior Torey Walker and junior Sarah Johnson each added 10 points respectively. In the championship game, the girls dominated Soquel and ended the tournament undefeated. The final score was 56-43, and Newton once again led the Lady Warriors with an amazing 25 points. Newton’s dominance and intensity were justly rewarded when she was named MVP of the entire tournament, which shows her incredible skill on the court. The Lady Warriors are off to a fantastic start and are ready to take on any team that comes their way!

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