After placing fifth last year in the Central Coast Section, this season, the Palo Alto varsity girls’ basketball team (2-1) is turning up the intensity, hoping to place high in the rankings.
In addition to mental and physical training, according to the 6 Core Principles, the girls hope to focus on character building by being trust worthy, respectful, responsible, fair, caring and good citizens.
Head Coach Scott Peters will focus his team on improving and continuing to work hard throughout the year.
“Our goals are the same for every year,” Peters said. “Work hard on skills and techniques and improve throughout the season.”
The returning players have much to offer despite the loss of many graduated seniors, Lakia Young, Olivia Garcia, Madison Hoffacker, Allie Coleman, Taylor Lovely, Kirsten Atkinson. The veterans are bolstered by the addition of two freshmen, Stephanie Allen and Jordan Plemons.
“The two freshmen on our team are very skilled and have a lot of potential for their future careers,” said junior post guard Katerina Peterson. “They are a huge contribution to our team’s success. They are fun teammates and I love being a part of this experience with them.”
By working hard and playing to their strengths, defense, the girls look forward to a bright season full of success.
“Our team’s strengths are our athleticism, our pride, and our scrappiness,” Peterson said. “Everyone is diving on the floor for the ball and each girl is aggressive. We are also a tough team, and we make sure we always play harder and tougher than our opponents.”
Like every other team, the girls also have weaknesses they must overcome.
“Since we are a fairly young team, I think our weakness comes from not knowing each other’s style of play,” senior point guard Lauren Mah said. “However with each game, I think we can overcome this weakness and work together on the court.”
Despite their lack of experience, the girls hope to find success with team captains senior Victoria Shih and sophomore Lindsay Black.
“Victoria keeps us in check by knowing everything we are supposed to be doing and making sure we get there,” sophomore center/post Emilee Osagiede said. “Lindsay keeps us in line making sure we are focused. Everybody on the team plays hard and that’s all I really ask for.”
As the team continues to progress, Shih hopes for improvements that will help the team win place first in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.
“We need to learn to play smart,” Shih said. “As a team we need to work on our execution. We need to apply the principles that we use in practice to our games, especially in tight situations.”
The Vikings fell to crosstown rival Gunn High School (34-39), on Jan. 15.
The Viking’s next home game will be against Monta Vista at 6:15 p.m, Friday, Jan. 22.