The winter season has arrived, marking the return of the school’s state championship winning girls basketball team. The team faces a new challenge this year as they step into the spotlight without key players Jamie Yue ’24 and Kamari McNeely ’24, who graduated from the school last year.
The team has opened the season 6-2, with wins against St. Joseph High School, Centennial and Westlake High School.
Interim Head Coach Alex Nailes, formerly an assistant coach for the boys basketball program, said he is encouraged by the strong start but remains focused on the team’s growth.
“We planned these games with the expectation of tough competition,” Nailes said. “Our top priority is always improvement. We’re continuously assessing, fine-tuning and pushing the players to challenge themselves, no matter what the score shows.”
Forward Valentina Guerrero ’26 said staying both mentally and physically healthy will be the biggest hurdle for the team as they navigate the season.
“The biggest challenge for us is maintaining consistency,” Guerrero said. “We need to stay healthy and keep our focus, even though we know the season will have its ups and downs.”
The team will face top-ranked opponents such as Sierra Canyon High School on Jan. 9 and Notre Dame High School on Jan. 17. Nailes said preparation will be key as the team adjusts to travel and the elevated competition throughout the basketball season.
“Managing health and staying mentally focused is key,” Nailes said. “We’ll need to work hard, but I’m confident the players will meet the challenge head-on.”
Nailes said guard Deana Thompson ’25 has displayed leadership on and off the court this season.
“Deana and others have really stepped up,” Nailes said. “She’s versatile, dedicated and a big part of the team’s success.”
Nailes said Guerrero and Madison Gillete ’26 have also made contributions to the team’s depth and chemistry.
“They bring so much energy, focus and balance to the team,” Nailes said. “Their leadership is truly priceless.”
Gurrero said the team’s bond and eagerness to work together is their greatest strength.
“Our connection is what makes us strong,” Gurrero said. “We’re not just teammates. We’re basically like a family. That connection totally helps us on and off the court.”
Reflecting on the influence of the boys basketball program and shared coaching staff, guard Bella Spencer ’25 said the girls team has benefited from learning under coaches who emphasize skill development and a more modern style of play.
“We have some plays that are similar to the boys,” Spencer said. “The boys have been really successful over the past few years, going back-to-back in state. Learning from their coaches, especially Coach Rebibo, has helped us grow as players and adopt a faster, more athletic style of basketball.”
Spencer said the team’s new approach prioritizes a flow in gameplay, with less rigid playing structure and more emphasis on the team’s movement and their adaptability.
“We do have sets and play,” Spencer said. “But at the end of the day, coach just wants us to play basketball and become better basketball players. We focus on motion and flow, rather than structure or being told every move to make. It’s about freedom on the court and playing like athletes, not robots.”
The tournament the team will compete next in is the National Elite Prep Showcase in Texas from Jan 2-4.
