Following the 25-3 record from last year, and placing first in the Summit City Conference, this basketball season for the girls is much anticipated. 

Some notable performances last season were defeating Homestead in a double-overtime 62-58, defeating Snider 79-75, and a 83-47 victory over the Northrop Bruins. 

The first three games this season will be played against Columbia City, Angola, and Carmel.

Junior Kayla Gibbs stressed the team’s cardio work this off-season.

“We personally are feeling really good about this upcoming season. We have been practicing hard to hold up to the same run that we had last year,” said Gibbs. “The team has been conditioning a lot so far this season. We have been getting up and down the court, and also challenging each other to make each other better.”

Junior Taylor Fordyce is also focused on the team’s physical conditioning.

“We played in a league this summer which helped us prepare for the season and also helped us see what we need to work on.” Fordyce said, “We have been doing open gyms and lifting weights as well to make us a stronger team.”

After beating all three of these teams at least once last season, there will most likely be some rising tension between these teams, with a chance to settle the score.

With several players transferring schools after the previous season, the question is whether there were any predicaments due to a lack of teammate chemistry. Last year’s leading scorer, Emily Parrett took her talents to St. Francis University and leading rebounders juniors Saniya and Neveah Jackson transferred to Northrop High School where their mother is the new head coach for the Bruins. 

“Everyone gets along well, and I think that we all are pretty close with each other. We had to rebuild the chemistry from last year losing a few players that we didn’t expect to lose, but so far the chemistry has been there,” said Gibbs.

Fordyce, the All-SAC guard, believes the team has what it needs to do well this season.

“I think we will have a good season this year because we have a talented group of girls with good bonds, which will help us succeed as a team,” Fordyce said.

The Chargers open their season at Columbia City High School Saturday at 7:30 p.m.