This year’s CYAA fifth and sixth grade girls basketball team was a little different from teams from previous seasons.

The team had 15 girls, however the parents voted against splitting the girls into two squads in case team members couldn’t make game or got hurt, thus leaving a squad shorthanded.

With 15 girls, it was a challenge to create even playing time for all the members. The team did five minute subs, which allowed each girl about two-and-a-half quarters of play per game.

The girls were given incentives to earn more playing time in the fourth quarter. More than half the girls on the team had never played basketball before. Nevertheless, the team won every game this season and finished with a record of 8-0.

The girls all played with heart and the team didn’t run specific plays. Instead, the girls were taught the fundamentals of basketball, which allowed them to have the freedom to communicate with each other to make their own plays happen.

Members of the team were: Molly Petruno, Maggie Marinkovits, Brooke Weidaw, Juliana Vazquez, Kadince Waldron, Aubrey Soldridge, Olivia Chunko, Kelly Leon, Juliana Campfield, Elizabeth McIlhaney, Anessa Rodriguez, Mia Gomes, Brooke Barna, Eva Gomes and Shamiya Roberts.