By Ale Ibarra Posted March 6, 2018
These ladies had a great season as they finished undefeated. Their last game was February 10, against Elko, and they came out with a win: 46-30.
Lauren Fentress knew that her team had improved throughout the season and that they deserved to win.
“The season has been really good, we have won all of our games and continued to get better as a team and individual players,” said Fentress. “We’re really hard-working, and we know how to win games. We have to play smart, and we want it more than the other team.”
Shantel Bernal shared how she thought the team managed to keep their head in the game.
“We kept our emotions together even when we felt nervous and thought that we were going to lose,” said Bernal. “My favorite part is probably when we played Spring Creek the first time. It was intense, and our team’s shooting skills were very good.”
Lesley Martinez thought the team chemistry made a big difference in the season’s outcome.
“I think the way we played was really affected by how we got along as a team,” said Martinez. “Our communication was something strong that made us understand each other on and off the court. We had some pretty good connections on the court; we understood what our teammates could each do, and we used that to our advantage.”
Coach Larry Renteria was more than proud of the girls’ performance throughout the season.
“Once tryouts for the season were complete, I could tell that we had some work to do, but we had a very good base,” said Renteria. “The season started out a little rough, as always, but the girls were able to get in a few good practices to get ready for our first games. Once we got started, they put in the time and effort to make the most of the season. Given that we worked hard, tried to improve with each day and week, I would say that we had a very successful season. Fortunately, we won several games and did not lose this year. Congratulations to the girls are well deserved.”
He also mentioned that the compatibility on the team was exceptional.
“The girls worked hard on and off the court; they supported each other,” said Renterie. “On the court, during practice, the players communicated, challenged each other, and worked together. During games, the players communicated and supported each other through the good and challenging times. In the classroom, all the girls worked to make sure they were able to contribute to the team by meeting or exceeding grade requirements. Practice started each day with a reflection on the school and what each player learned. When we had small instances, we were able to face the issue head-on and resolve it to best support the team and the individuals involved, promoting a positive experience for everyone.”
Renteria had high hopes for the girls and is striving to become a better coach himself.
“Since my girls will be moving on to the next level, what I want to focus on is purely personal,” said Renteria. “I want to work with the players to harness this passion and competitive spirit in a way that helps the team and promotes leadership rather than dragging the team down. On another note, I want to work with the coaches above me to make sure the players I work with are ready for the next level. I will look to both the players and coaches for feedback on my performance this year so that I can continue to improve and do a better job. Finally, I want to congratulate the girls. Everyone improved, everyone earned every winning moment, and everyone made this a memorable season. Thank you for letting me share in your freshman basketball season and freshman year. You are a great bunch of people; I look forward to seeing you continue to represent Lowry both on and off the court. Go Bucks!”
