Dedication takes team to regionals

by Paige Garrison

The girls varsity basketball team (21-6) made it to the second round of regionals where they lost to Monacan High School 85-65. In the first round, they had defeated Deep Run 43-35.

Head Coach Rebecca Snow said the girls picked up where they had left off last season and stepped up their game, raising expectations even higher for the season. She said the girls were dedicated to the team throughout the year not just the season, which led to their success.

“The girls work on their game in the off-season, they play AAU, go to camp, and they come to summer and fall workouts to get ready for the season,” Coach Snow said.

The Lady Blue Devils had not made it to regionals since 2000. Not only did the team make it to regionals, they also had 21 wins, setting them apart from the team in 2000.

“We wanted to win our district as well as make it to the regional final, and we fell short. But if we had not set those goals high, we would not have experienced the success we did have, and that is important,” Coach Snow said.

Assistant Coach Victoria Ferris said veteran players helped make the difference in the team’s success.

“They went above my expectations to make it into regionals,” Coach Ferris said.

The team will only lose two seniors for next year: co-captain and guard Micha Cox and guard Paris Dickerson.

Micha said the team got along well and was unselfish.

“I was sad about the season ending because I didn’t want it to end because we have a good team, but you have to move on,” Micha said. 

Paris said that the team never got mad at each other or fought because they always had each other’s backs.

“The love of the team, the locker room experience–it was our sanction,” Paris said.  “We’ve known each other so well [that we] talk about everything and anything.”

Both girls said that the team still works out together and has cookouts.

“Micha Cox and Paris Dickerson are tremendous people, students and athletes. They were very valuable to the team not just because of their athletic skill, but really because they are two great people who helped the team be as close as they were,” Coach Snow said.