“We can keep working at it and continue to get better,” senior varsity captain Maddie Rupp said. This season, the girls varsity basketball team has started the season with a 4-2 record. After barely missing a trip to the state tournament last year, they have returned this season motivated and determined to make it this time. With strong leadership, growing team chemistry and great Pony pride, both players and fans are excited to see how far the team can go this year.
Being ranked 11th in state has given the girls basketball team confidence, but not full certainty. Instead of focusing on the numbers, this team is emphasizing their steady improvement and achievements as they get further into the season, continuing to play games and beat other teams. Rupp said the team views the ranking as a motivation rather than a final achievement.
“I feel like it’s pretty good honestly, but I think we can keep working at this and get better,” Rupp said.
The team’s ranking is supported by their 4-2 starting stats, with wins from beating the Park Wolfpack 39-32, the Century Panthers 52-41, the Irondale Knights 61-27 and the John Marshall Rockets 63-17. Junior Avery Newman, a shooting guard for the ponies thinks that strong defense and teamwork has helped the team to succeed early on.
“Usually, we play good defense together and try to move the basketball enough to get good shots,” Newman said. The ponies continue to build confidence as they face tougher competition throughout the season.
“If you play together and with great effort, it doesn’t matter what style of basketball you play, that you will be successful,” head coach Tim Peper said.
Leadership has played a major role in the team’s success, led by their captains Rupp and senior Adde Bergstad, who have both been part of the high school basketball program since their freshman year, and played basketball for many years before that as well. Rupp explained that her responsibility as captain is to keep the team together and establish a sense of unity throughout the girls.
“I have to make sure that everybody’s working together and building a good team atmosphere,” she said. Peper also emphasized the importance of captains, and how they can use their leadership to push the team, noting that the captains “help our younger players understand what it means to be a part of our basketball program.”
The Ponies roster includes 15 players who practice multiple times each week to improve their skills and strengthen the team chemistry. Peper, who has coached for 28 years, believes that effort and togetherness are keys to success within a team.
“If you play together and with great effort, it doesn’t matter what style of basketball you play, that you will be successful,” Peper said. With players committed to improving every day, the team continues to build a strong culture on and off the court that will help lead them to victory in games, and could even bring them to the state championship.
With a strong game plan, clear goals and a committed team, the Ponies are setting themselves up for a great season. Each victory continues to build the confidence and excitement among players and fans as the team pushes forward. After falling just short of a state tournament last season, the girls are using that experience as motivation to improve every day. As the season continues on, the girls varsity basketball team is ready to carry its momentum, determination, and power all the way to state, giving it their all every step of the way.
