Fans scream and seconds flick across the scoreboard like centuries. An orange ball hangs in mid-air for a moment before plummeting down to bounce against the rim. Once. Twice. It drops into the net soundlessly.

     A moment later the buzzer sounds and the thirteen girls who make up Conifer’s basketball team turn in unison towards the scoreboard.

     49-48. Conifer takes the win against Alameda high school.

     “We all ran out on the court and did this giant group hug, and that felt really good,” sophomore Madelynn Sinnett said. “It was super unsportsmanlike, but it was really cool for us.”

     Perhaps Sinnett is right, but there are times in life where exceptions to proper sportsmanship must be made. Monday night was one of them- the girls had a lot to celebrate. The Alameda game was the last of the season, the team was honoring senior night, and it was the girl’s first win of the year. 

     “It was a good season,” Sinnett said. “Having a new coach was really great and being with our team was really fun.”

     No, one win will not bring the girls glittering trophies or state championships, but for now, that’s alright. Between COVID reducing the season’s length, the loss of players rendering Conifer without a JV team, and the introduction of an entirely new coaching staff the odds were pitted against Conifer from day one. When faced with this opposition, however, the team made the best out of a difficult situation.

     “The new coaches did an amazing job of bringing the girls together and I think it was an amazing thing to just see everybody play,” sophomore Alix Stielow said.

     For many players, this season was about finding chemistry and setting team culture for the beginning of a new era in Conifer Girl’s basketball. From off-season practices to summer leagues the team already has its sights set on next season.

     “I just want to get better and play more, not only to help myself but to help the team,” Stielow said.