On December 10th, 2024, LACES varsity Girls Basketball played their second game of the season. Their opening game against Immaculate Heart ended in a 35-36 loss, and today is their chance for redemption.
As the opponent, Animo Jackie Robinson Charter High School, funnels into the gym to warm up, LACES Coach Kevin Goodall leads the team in a huddle, discussing goals of the game and strategy. After the team warms up with a series of defensive and offensive drills, the buzzer rings, announcing the start of the first quarter.
The moment the ball is tossed, Junior Nyala Clark jumps up to meet her opponent, snatching the ball and passing it to one of her fellow teammates.
Three minutes later, LACES is up 6-0, until Robinson player #50 receives the ball and sinks a three, leveling the score to 6-3. For the rest of the quarter, Robinson doesn’t score, ending with a 13-3 LACES lead. The first play of the second quarter follows team captain Sadie Tankel, collecting a rebound and passing a long ball to LACES #12, who lays the ball up and scores the first point of the second quarter.
Less than five minutes later, LACES Freshman Laila Ahmand receives the ball and shoots a straight two pointer, pushing the score up to 26-5.
By halftime, LACES is up 34-5, and the team gathers into the storage room, closing the door and prohibiting wandering ears. Sophomore and team captain Mila Sano sinks the first shot of the second half, making a three from the right side of the court.
The score keeps going up, until the third quarter is over and the score is 44-7.
Another quarter passes by with zero points by Robinson, and when 30 more seconds are on the clock, Robinson steals a rebound, driving down the court. Running alongside her is Freshman Zahara Tate, who sticks her arm in and takes the ball back, passing back to Sadie Tankel, who completes a layup and secures the final score, 60-7.
The match concludes and the teams line up to shake hands, Sophomore Mila Sano being named the player of the game with the most points.
“The goal for us was to play together, really rebound, our first game last night we lost by one point. I just really want us to bounce back,” said Coach Kevin, and they did, with a 53 point lead.
