With a new coach in charge, returning members of the junior varsity and varsity girls’ basketball team must compete for their spots on the girls’ varsity team. 21 returning girls gathered together on Aug. 30 in the Big Gym of San Gabriel High School to secure their positions on the varsity team.
“I’m just very scared because we have to fight for our spots, so we have to put our all into it,” Aviva Chu, junior said. “I originally wanted to try out for the tennis team but I didn’t really like it, so I tried out for the basketball team and I’ve just been in it [since].”
“I have been playing basketball since I was a little kid, everyday, during lunch, and recess,” Ashley Wong, junior said. “I’m confident, I’ve been on girls varsity basketball team for two years”
“I’m feeling a little bit nervous, I’ve gotten into varsity before since my parents forced me to play basketball at a young age,” Audrie Szeto, sophomore said. “I’ve sort of been on and off with the team but I should do okay since there aren’t as many people trying out for varsity.”
Tryouts lasted around an hour and consisted of multiple laps around the Big Gym, passing and blocking drills, layup drills, rebound and three-pointer drills, 2v3 and 1v2 scrimmages, and suicides (the drill). All 21 girls gave it their all and eagerly waited for their coach to release the results.
“I think my performance was around a six, before tryouts we haven’t had practice for a month because of a tight scheduling, I didn’t do my best but it’s okay,” Wong said. “Overall, I think I could’ve done better in dribbling, passing, and shooting. I think this style of trying out for a spot is kind of like The Hunger Games, only the best survive, so I guess this is what it takes to be in varsity.”
“I would say my performance was a six, I don’t think I reached my full potential. I think the new tryout system is reasonable, we have to show the coach that we deserve being in varsity,” Chu said. Szeto replies, “I think my performance was a seven, there were some baskets I couldn’t make but I also did think that I put a lot of effort. I think I could’ve practiced my shooting a bit more.”
All 21 girls gave it their all during the tryout, and regardless of the outcome, they can use it as an example for how they can improve in either dribbling, shooting, blocking, or stamina.