Basketball Baddies

The basketball slams into the floor as the buzzer blares. It bounces once, then twice, and rolls to a stop. The crowd holds its breath, all eyes on the glowing scoreboard, before it erupts in cheers. Another victory for Jefferson Academy.

For the players on the varsity basketball teams, the win is about more than the final score. It reflects weeks of commitment, motivational talks, and the bonds they build as a team.

“I’m really proud of the teams,” Coach Sharpley reflected. “They’ve put in a lot of effort. My favorite part of coaching them is getting to watch them improve and have fun.”

With every practice, the teams are motivated to sharpen their skills and build momentum for the season, with hopes of finishing strong in March.

“What helps us succeed is that we do a great job keeping a positive mindset and getting back up once we are knocked down,” sophomore Chloe Mooney stated.

Beyond maintaining an optimistic mindset, the basketball teams regularly reflect on their growth and performance. Players like junior Seth Lane celebrate the progress they make each week on the courts, and as team players.

“I look forward to playing with the guys,” Lane added. “We’ve been working hard during practices and games, and I like how motivated we are to perform well.”

Team dynamics has played a major role in shaping the players’ performance this season. Encouragement from teammates and mentors drives effort and dedication from the players, while the team culture motivates students to push themselves toward their shared and personal goals.

“What I love most about playing basketball is the community,” Mooney said. “I love working with everyone and getting better at coordination with my teammates during games. Without good team effort, you don’t get far.”

With the season in full swing, the players know that every win and loss will shape how they face their challenges and pursue their goals. Their main objectives include securing major victories, qualifying for the state tournament, and reaching the Elite Eight at the Coliseum. Sharpley has observed steady progress toward these goals.

“We set short-term goals every two weeks, work towards them, and evaluate,” Sharpley explained. “Then we adjust and set more goals to reach. We’ve met a lot of our goals, but if we fall short, then we keep going.”

While the outlook for the season remains positive, the basketball players face unique challenges throughout the season. Balancing academics, extracurriculars, and late games requires discipline and dedication.

“We sacrifice a lot of our time to play basketball,” elaborated junior Ellie Arnold. “We spend a lot of time at tournaments and late-night practices, and that can be hard for students who have a lot of work to do.”

Despite the demanding struggles, players continue to show resilience and strong commitment, a dedication that Sharpley believes is reflected in their work ethic every week.

“We’re taking things one day at a time,” Sharpley said. “Every day is a blessing.”

Ultimately, not only do the weekly practice become opportunities for growth and teamwork, but also opportunities to face challenges and learn from them.

“When practices get tough and people get hurt during the season, we remind [ourselves] why we’re here in the first place,” Arnold added. “We’re here because we want to be here.”