THE ROAD TO VICTORY

By EMILY NAGLE

With a record of 17-6, the Wizards girls’ varsity basketball team had an outstanding season.  The team played in the Section IX Championship at Orange County Community College on Sunday, March 4th, against Kingston.  Unfortunately, their season came to an end after a heartbreaking defeat of 84-50. 

The Wizards played their hearts out on Sunday as evidenced by the halftime score of 33-32 with Kingston barely in the lead.  The second half of the game was not as close as Kingston scored 51 points over the Wizards’ 18 resulting in Kingston earning the Section IX Championship. 

EMILY NAGLE FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY 

Although their season ended earlier than Wizard Nation hoped, the Lady Wizards had nothing to be ashamed of and hope to have many more victorious seasons in the future.  Junior, Dyana Budakowski is thrilled for the upcoming season and expressed, “Next year we are expecting to make it even further.” Her teammates share the same sentiments and are confident that the future will be bright for the next few years to come.

Upon making it to the Section IX Championship, individual players accomplished some personal goals as well. Junior and co-captain, Victoria Pecovic, has achieved her goal of reaching 1000 points.  She scored in the first quarter of the championship game with a three pointer bringing her to 1001 points.  It is impressive for a basketball player to achieve this goal within her senior year, but for a junior, that is truly leaving a mark.  Pecovic has set her new goal to “try my best to motivate the team, and help us get better each and everyday.”

Going to the Section IX Championship was a milestone for the Wizards.  “I expect our team to make it just as far, and with all we accomplished this year, the incoming varsity players will be motivated to achieve the same goal,” expressed Pecovic.   There is no doubt that this defeat is going to motivate the Wizards to work harder towards their team goals.

The basketball players were not the only Wizards to show up on Sunday.  The student section never fails to impress.  Wizards from all over the district came out to support the varsity team in their fight for the chip.  Even with looks of defeat, chanting “Wizard Nation” gave the girls the support they needed on the court.  Good luck to all the players on the girls’ basketball team next season!