New team, same dream

With their season well underway, the girls varsity basketball team is managing to fill the large shoes left behind by the seniors last season. Ten varsity seniors graduated after the 2022-23 season, three of whom were college commits for the sport, so the team had to be reloaded with new players. The class of 2023 left an impact on the program, resulting in them participating in two Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) Championships and the NorCal Quarter Finals. There is concern regarding how the new team will live up to those expectations.

With only two returning varsity players, the team had to start the season off with a relatively young team. However, junior Quincy Dean wants to hold off any negative comments regarding the future of the team and transition to the hope of the program.

“I want to prove everyone wrong that San Marin [varsity girls basketball] will be bad this year,” Dean said. “I think we have a solid team and can do some great things with our skill and coaching.”

The team is well aware that they have a lot to live up to, and that reaching the high standards they set for themselves may take time. Head coach Tony Butler, believes the key to the teams success is to hold them to the same standards.

“New team, same standards. If we continue to believe in each other and hold ourselves to the highest standards, we are going to have success, but that might look different than it did in the past,” Butler said.

A new start can be intimidating, but the team has a strong mindset to get through the year and progress into the future. Growth is a part of the process and as the only returning senior, Emma Rogers is confident that the team will be just fine recovering this year.

“We had a really strong sense of family last year and just keeping our standards the same and treating people the way we did last year, that’s something that can stay the same no matter who else is in the room,” Rogers said.