8th Grade Girls Basketball
season recap
by Maggie K.
On a sunny day in the first few weeks of the 2014 school year only eight players tried out for the 7th grade Gurrie girls basketball team. A group of unorganized teens were lead by Grant Kramer, a first grade teacher at Hodgkins, and basically had no idea how to play.
“I thought that last year was a challenge because it was the first time for some of us playing organized basketball,” said Coach Kramer.
As a member of the team I feel that the entire year was a learning process with lots of laughs and mistakes. We tried hard, but mainly just had fun and embraced our lack of skill. The season ended in a 1-12 record with hope for the next year.
This season was full of a lot more positive events. It all started at tryouts when a total of 13 girls showed up to compete for a spot on the team. As a result we gained some new players such as Lizet M., a strong point guard, Cassidy D., a swift defender, Aviana R., a dominating force at the boards, and Grace B., our aggressive all around player. New additions like these helped the team win with a 4-8 record.
“We were more successful for a number of reasons: the addition of a few new players to the team, our second year together as a team- we were a year older and wiser,” Kramer added. “I feel like the close games that we lost last kind of got away from us and they were winnable.”
The team grew a stronger bond and learned to work together as a whole. When one made a mistake, it impacted the whole team. We improved greatly.
“I will definitely miss practices after school (the ones at the beginning of the season when EVERYone was there) because of the relationship we had as a team. This season had a much better feel to it and was certainly more fun,” said Kramer.
Whether we win or lose, we do it together. Never forget, Tigers!
“I thought that last year was a challenge because it was the first time for some of us playing organized basketball,” said Coach Kramer.
As a member of the team I feel that the entire year was a learning process with lots of laughs and mistakes. We tried hard, but mainly just had fun and embraced our lack of skill. The season ended in a 1-12 record with hope for the next year.
This season was full of a lot more positive events. It all started at tryouts when a total of 13 girls showed up to compete for a spot on the team. As a result we gained some new players such as Lizet M., a strong point guard, Cassidy D., a swift defender, Aviana R., a dominating force at the boards, and Grace B., our aggressive all around player. New additions like these helped the team win with a 4-8 record.
“We were more successful for a number of reasons: the addition of a few new players to the team, our second year together as a team- we were a year older and wiser,” Kramer added. “I feel like the close games that we lost last kind of got away from us and they were winnable.”
The team grew a stronger bond and learned to work together as a whole. When one made a mistake, it impacted the whole team. We improved greatly.
“I will definitely miss practices after school (the ones at the beginning of the season when EVERYone was there) because of the relationship we had as a team. This season had a much better feel to it and was certainly more fun,” said Kramer.
Whether we win or lose, we do it together. Never forget, Tigers!