Over the summer, the girls varsity basketball team traveled to Branson in order to compete with other teams from different states, from June 7-9. This gave them the opportunity to compete with other teams as well as grow as a team.

“The whole point of the trip was for team bonding and to grow even closer together so we could have an even better team the following year,” senior Alicia Hunn said. “We were able to have fun while playing and get better. One of my favorite memories from the trip is going go-kart racing with the whole team. It was so fun to see all the girls plus the coaches laughing and having fun together. It was also funny to see that all of us are just as competitive outside of basketball too.”

The team competed at Licking Middle and High School and played in a seven-game series. They made it to the championships but ended up losing. Since the competition was different, communication with each other was vital, as well as utilizing each individual’s skills.

“It is very important because the game can’t be all on one person with only one person working,” sophomore Morgan Smith said. “I think communication is absolutely key in those games because when you get tired it gets really hard, so I think communication really helps out with that.”

Coaches also help the players stay connected when playing, while also encouraging and motivating them during competitive and strenuous games.

“Coach [Rampley] is an amazing coach,” Hunn, who plays guard, said. “She pushes us to do our best and not give up. She’s tough on us and sometimes makes us run a lot, but she’s doing it because she wants us to be the best team we can be. And
I think having a coach that wants to see us get better is really good for our team.”