by Reilly H.

At Alamo Heights Junior School, the 7th-grade girls’ blue and gold basketball teams have had a successful season so far and are finishing the season strong.

At the beginning of the year, many players simply “wanted to try something new,” said Zizzy Kate Porterfield, a 7th-grade girls’ gold team basketball player. While some girls started playing basketball for the first time this year, for others, it’s a regular, fun sport. “I’ve been wanting to keep playing basketball,” said Logan Mazurek, a 7th-grade girls’ blue team basketball player.

As the season progressed, the players found inspiration for self-improvement from various people. Zizzy Kate mentioned that she looks up to the “coaches because they push us to try.” Other players are inspired by parents as well as coaches. “Mrs. Stephanie Sierra, first of all, and my dad—they’ve taught me a lot,” said Logan.

Having someone who inspires you is important, whether it’s someone there to watch, coach, or play alongside you. “I definitely look for Caroline, because I know she’ll make it pretty much every time,” Logan added. Caroline Sierra is admired by her teammates for her effort and dedication. She “puts forth the effort and practices a lot,” Logan said.

Seeing one teammate work hard helps motivate the rest of the team. “Everybody is putting in the work to get better,” said Ainsley Thompson, a 7th-grade girls’ blue team basketball player and member of Mule Time Media.

While basketball is full of excitement, it does have its downsides. Logan noted her “least favorite part is probably when girls don’t listen.” It makes practice harder for everyone, as Zizzy Kate pointed out: “We have to run.”

Despite the challenges, many players agree that their “favorite part of basketball is hanging out with friends and just working on getting better,” said Ainsley.

As the season comes to a close, the 7th-grade girls’ blue and gold basketball teams can look back with pride. Their hard work, dedication, and team spirit have not only led to a successful season but also fostered personal growth. The inspiration from coaches, parents, and teammates like Caroline has motivated each player to strive for self-improvement, both on and off the court. While there have been challenges, the girls have pulled through as a team.