On Monday, Dec. 8 the varsity women’s basketball went to Royal Oak for an away game. They were locking in tight and pushing through a tough start. The River Rats earned their first win of the season on the road.

Earlier in the season, they struggled in their early games. At the beginning, it was rough. They lost many matches. This team put in the work, battled through every challenge, and grew together every step of the way.

“I was excited because I know we’ve been working really good,” senior Arie Hesterly said.

Their hard work showed during their hardest games. It is seeing that determination, dedication, and how the players put in all summer long. These moments are how they keep pushing through and why they even compete.

“Yeah, probably the three man we like, it’s just got a good flow to it, I like that,” sophomore Sanista Sachin said.

Sachin got really locked in, by focusing on passing and teamwork. The three players moved up the court, their flow was smooth, getting into the zone where they felt they could do more, naturally balancing by following their pass.

“No, I was kind of prepared for the game,” freshman Brookyln Bennett said.

At this moment, she had prepared well for the game from training hard beforehand and knew exactly what to do once the game started moving.

“I think I scored three points,” Bennett said.

Her focus paid off in the moments that followed, when she stepped up and made plays that kept the team moving. It was a reminder to always shoot, forget the fear, get ready, aim at the target, and then take your shot.

“It was just like most of my team was locked in,” Sachin said.

By the middle of the game, half the team was locking in and staying focused, helping each other stay strong, while the other half was starting to feel exhausted. A great team always needs a scorer and a teammate who’s ready to assist, and Huron was trying to find that balance on the court.

“Yes, we did win the game,” Hesterly said.

The River Rats have defeated the Royal Oaks with a final score of 49-46. The team did a great job working very hard, and they earned it.

All three players worked hard throughout the game. They pushed through every challenge on the court. Their determination and teamwork were impressive, and everyone watching could see and support the team. They are ready and prepared for the next match.