On December 13, the CKHS girl’s varsity basketball team faced off against Bellarmine High School. With a final score of 65-25 Bellarmine, this game was particularly hard due to it being the third game of this week.

“The game was a hard one. It was our third one this week. So we are tired. The girls have had a lot of late practices, a lot of late nights.” CKHS Coach Lindsay Baumgartner said.

Along with a great mindset and teamwork, the team showed their defensive skills, blocking Bellarmine Preparatory School every chance they got. Aaliyah Gaulden (#4) displayed her defense along with Elizabeth Griffin (#21) both guarding Bellarmine’s #20

“We just need to be working towards it and getting together more, connecting as a team and with, bonding and all that kind of things.” CKHS Player Lily Lay said.

Everyone’s contribution of hard work and determination caused them to build trust with one another which made them come closer together as more of a family, not just a team. This bond shows that you can find friendship anywhere even if it’s competitive. Practice for this team is not only a place for them to bond, but a place for them to get better via shooting drills or the ‘Two Minutes in Hell’.

“[We do] Two minutes in hell, which is like running up and down the court, and layups, and you would have to get as many as you can in two minutes,” CKHS Guard Chelsey Cobb said.

Making friends and having fun is important for young athletes to have. Playing in a team sport isn’t just a solo, you have to make connections with the others who are on the team and that would soon lead to friendship and trust in one another. This unity as a team is important as disconnection between anyone could lead to a disruption in the whole team atmosphere.

“I love the sisterhood that we have this year, but I feel like sometimes we kind of have to figure it out sometimes, and we have to learn how to communicate and fix the energy,” Cobb said. “But I’m really happy.”

To the players and Coach Baumgartner, basketball is more like a family brought together.

“They feel kind of like my kids, I care a lot about them. I enjoy every day that I get to come into the gym and see their faces, it feels like a privilege to get to be with them.” Baumgartner said.