At Stuart Hall, winter is a season full of beginnings and endings. While the semester may be coming to a close, many athletes here have been hard at work in the first part of their basketball season. Roughly a month into practice, this hard work has already made a clear appearance as both the Girls and Boys teams have shown up strong to represent their school. This enthusiasm has been matched in the Stuart Hall community, who eagerly attend games and have even brought back the unofficial cheer team. Although many sports and activities have a home at this school, basketball never fails to draw a crowd.
For the Stuart Hall Girls Basketball team, last year marked a season with limited games. This, however, did not put a damper on the spirit and dedication of this team. So far, it has had a good and productive season marked with more frequent practices and many returning players. One of said returning players, senior Liliana Badalamenti, expresses that one of her favorite parts of the sport is the community aspect. She writes, “It’s fun to be growing and improving as part of a team”. This sense of togetherness has certainly been aided by the aforementioned more frequent practices, which allow for the team t0 better know one another and how they play. With all these positive aspects, it is sure to be a great season for this team.
Similarly, the Boys team has also had a strong start. Only a few weeks into practice, the boys went down to North Carolina to compete in the Charlotte Hoops Challenge. While up against both strong competitors and limited time together as a team before, the team came through strong, winning the championship. Coach Lafave proudly stated that the team, "Represented the school with grit and togetherness." Community as a strongpoint has proven to ring true throughout Stuart Hall. After the championship, the boys team continued to prove that this season would be one for the books. So far, they have boasted a 6-0 win ratio, leaving them undefeated.
During a cold and academically challenging season, the determination and energy put into the sport by all these players is something to be admired. Next home game is Boys Varsity vs Virginia Episcopal this Thursday, make sure to come out and support the team!
Amory Harris