According to the Southern Lehigh basketball players, the secret to success lies in the connections they make on the court. Whether they are setting picks for each other or coordinating to pull off a play, their strong communication drives their accomplishments. Both the girls and boys teams had a slow start to their season, with records of 8-11 and 11-8 respectively as of January 27th. However, they believe their focus on team bonding will help them turn their seasons around.

The Girls Team

The girls’ basketball team, captained by seniors Piper Gluck, Taylor McDonald, and Raven Martinez, had a slow start, but the team is confident they will prevail in the future.
“We started by playing the hardest teams in the league,” said Gluck, “but we should be able to get some more wins.”
The team is marching towards the end of the season with faith in their plays and an emphasis on teamwork. The girls practice great sportsmanship as they make an effort to pat each other on the back after small victories or losses throughout the game.
The team says that they like to drive home the importance of unity and being supportive of one another, despite adversity. This positive attitude is a cornerstone of their successes, fostering an environment where players can lift each other up on and off the court. By making sure everyone has fun together, they are able to build stronger bonds, on and off the court.
“We like to hang out with each other outside of practice to have team bonding,” said McDonald.
Even with some setbacks in the first half of the season, the girls’ team has been coming to practice determined to put hard work in. They use every opportunity possible to get better.
Another facet to the team’s communication is their ability to reflect on their past performances. After contemplating their past games and talking through their mistakes, they better understand their goals for the future.
“During the second half of the season, we are focused on improving our offense,” said McDonald.
Through getting to know each other better and analyzing their weaknesses, the girls basketball team is focused on becoming a more cohesive unit. They believe these small changes will help them tackle challenges together, instead of separately.

The Boys Team

For the boys’ team, captains are seniors Sean McMenamy and Frankie Boensch, and juniors Michael Fry and Joseph Plessl. Although the team faced some trouble early on, they have bounced back, regaining confidence in their teamwork and skills.
The team agrees that being on the court is important, but developing chemistry is just as important as practicing their skills. They believe team bonding will translate to better communication and coordination on the court, which is essential for them to succeed.
“Our mindset is coming to practice ready to put in hard work. Taking each practice as an opportunity to get better,” said Fry, “During the second half of the season we are focusing on improving our offense.”
As the boys’ team heads into playoff territory, they will try to think of new ways to get out of their slump and make the most of their season.
“As long as we keep our energy levels high, we can have a good end of the season and carry it over to playoffs,” said McMenamy.
The girls’ and boys’ high school basketball teams are not just competing, but forming long-lasting friendships and learning great teamwork skills. As the players challenge themselves and each other, they have no doubt their teams can end the season strong.