12/7- Andover: 59 Pomfret: 29
12/11- Andover: Worcester:
Record: 1-1
Girls Basketball (1-1) started off its season strong with a decisive win in its home opener, beating Pomfret 59 to 29. Despite the opening victory, the team fell to Worcester Academy in its second game of the season.
Co-Captain Sophie Dandawa ’25 noted the advantage of having an additional week of Fall Term, giving the team more chances to focus on team-building, goal-setting, defensive positioning, and transitions before its first game.
“We had a little bit more time than usual to prepare for our first game because of the extra week in Fall Term, so we spent a lot of time working on defensive positioning and working hard to run fast and transition from defense to offense. Those were some main points that our coaches put a big emphasis on, team camaraderie. And we also had a really big emphasis on making sure we practiced the little things such as hyping each other up, giving each other high fives, and lifting each other up. Those were some of the main goals we set going into that first game,” said Dandawa.
Dandawa appreciated the opportunity to play with a new team, as well as the multitude of support from the bench, the crowd, and SLAM.
“It was definitely very exciting obviously as a home opener with a new team. So we just wanted to focus on getting the energy up, and we got a lot of that just from ourselves and the crowd and slam and so there was a really great energetic atmosphere I’d say,” said Dandawa.
A new addition to the team this year, Chloe Abou-Ezzi ’27 recalls the lively energy going into her first game, echoing Dandawa’s comments about the team’s excitement to play together for the first time.
Abou-Ezzi said, “Going in we were all super hyped, we were all really excited for both of the games. Especially for our home opener, it was super, super exciting because this was our first team together for the season with all of the new players, including myself. I’m new to the team so it was just super exciting getting to play together for the first time.”
Jules Stevenson ’28 recounted the team’s hard work in both games, emphasizing that each individual player contributed in their own ways.
“Everyone stepped up and played their own roles, whether it was getting a rebound or bringing energy on the bench. Everyone contributed to our first win, and everyone contributed to the hard fight we fought against Worcester today. And although we lost, I believe that everyone fought hard,” said Stevenson.
The team hosted Worcester Academy at home on Wednesday, which Dandawa explained brought challenges due to it being a school day.
“Going into today, we just wanted to really pick up where we left off from Saturday, keeping the energy up and focusing on the things that we’ve practiced. It was a little more difficult given it was a Wednesday and it’s the first game we played on the same day as having school, so we had a lot more to juggle, just as individual people. I wish we had a little bit more time beforehand to better prepare ourselves both mentally and physically, but we did the best with what we could, we made the best out of it,” said Dandawa.
Dandawa commended Ruby Kokinos ’26 for her impressive play, which helped revive the energy of the team when the exhaustion was beginning to settle in.
“In the fourth quarter, Ruby Kokinos subbed in and hit a really big three, and it was at a time when the team morale was a little bit down and a little bit low, so it was great. After she hit that three, we’re all right back up and cheering and more engaged in the game, so props to Ruby because she really got us riled up again,” said Dandawa.
Girls Basketball will play at Loomis Chaffee this Saturday.
