On Saturday, February 18, the girls’ basketball team played in the WPIAL playoffs against Sewickley Academy.

This was the 3rd time in my basketball career that I was able to go. Every year is a new experience, and they are some of my dearest memories. It is quite a task to make it to playoffs, and this year was even harder. Last year, the team had 8 girls playing on varsity, including 5 seniors and 3 juniors. This year we lacked the varsity experience, and had many injuries throughout the entire season. So, to be able to say that the team played it to playoffs once again, was an amazing experience.

Although we did lose in the first round, that day will be a day I treasure for a long time. When the team arrived at North Allegheny for the game, we all were quite impressed by how much of this school differed from ours. For me at least, I was quite intimidated playing in such a different environment than I was used to. Although with team and their crazy antics of poking and laughing at each other, I could never be nervous for too long. The girls played and warmed up exactly like every other game. Not leaving out the silly remarks towards each other, and the team laughing when somebody air balled, or missed the rim.

When the game started, all my nerves came back to eat at me. It was one of the most nerve wracking moments of my life. That all changed when I entered the game. Playing with the team, I relaxed, and the game reminded me of a hard, yet serious practice. At the end of the second half Krista had made a half court buzzer beater. The shot  left us feeling pumped going into halftime. At halftime, the team talked about what was needed to win the game, and we fought for the rest of the game. Fighting to try and take the lead was hard, and the shots were not going in. Unfortunately, the game ended, and the score was 43-29, Sewickley Academy. Even though the team lost the game, the worst part was realizing that was our last game we would play with the seniors.

The game was difficult, and not the outcome we wanted, but it is a memory I feel that will go with each of the girls. I am sad that this year has to end and the seniors must leave, but I am glad that the season ended on such a good note with a well-fought game.