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February 12, 2024
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Girls Basketball returns after two irregular seasons

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After taking it to the Final Four in the 2020-2021 season, the HR Varsity Girls Basketball team is ready to start the new year. The opportunity to have fans in the stands and create an energetic atmosphere is a motivating factor for the team after time without it. 

Katie Johanning, junior, said, “I am most looking forward to having less COVID restrictions. So having more people in the stands and just being able to have more normalcy.”

Some rival games to watch out for this year are against Rock Canyon, Cherry Creek, and Valor. After losing to Valor and Creek in the Final Four the last two years, the team is ready to step it up this season. Tori Baker, freshman, said, “Those games are always tough, but oftentimes the most enjoyable, whether it’s playing hard and winning or the amount of students and parents that come to those games.”


“We are all so close and I love playing with all of them,” said Katie Johanning, junior. Photo courtesy of Alex Pirog


One obstacle from past years the Falcons are working towards overcoming this year, that could help them win these rival games, is playing four strong quarters every game. “Some challenges I have been faced with are the speed and intensity of the game. They’ve definitely been adjustments but they make basketball so much more enjoyable,” said Baker. 

The girls work year round and exercise on their own time to improve their skills. Alex Pirog, senior, said, “To prepare for the season we are doing open gyms, conditioning, lifting, and building our team chemistry on and off the floor.”


Girls basketball during Final Four in 2020. Photo courtesy of Alex Pirog


There was a concern for the girls basketball program of finding enough girls for the team. Returning players visited freshman and sophomore homerooms to hand out flyers with important information, there were posters in the hall, and mentions in the Student Announcements to promote the girls basketball program. “Our recruiting efforts have been pretty successful and we will have 3 teams, which was our goal,”  said Caryn Jarocki, Head Varsity Basketball Coach.

As new girls go through the program, the exceptional chemistry of the team remains throughout the years. The girls on the team are not only teammates on the court, but friends off it, and create a bond as the season plays out. Emily Hovausse, senior, said, “I’m definitely going to miss my teammates and friends the most because some of them I’ve been playing with since I was in 3rd grade.”

Madi Hamm, Staff Reporter

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Girls Basketball returns after two irregular seasons