Varsity girls basketball beat San Marin on Tuesday, Jan. 27th with a 50-48 win, keeping the team as the number one seed in the Marin County Athletic League (MCAL). The Giants came into the second half down 13 points and into the fourth quarter 36-41. 

Senior captain Kitty White described what the team needed to defeat San Marin. 

“We needed to bring the energy and work harder than them. We were down by ten, and that’s what we did,” White said.

Aside from the physical challenges, White mentioned how the team’s mindset determined their success. 

“We talked a lot about uplifting each other, making sure that if someone makes a mistake, you’re right there with them,” White said.

When it came to team energy, White was not alone in this value, as senior Jaden Vangorder also feels that team support and unity are important aspects of the game.

“Our energy is just so big, and I think it leaves a really powerful impact,” Vangorder said.

“The moment that we stepped out of the team room at halftime, you could tell that we all came together as a team and everyone’s [minds] shifted; we didn’t come out walking, we came out running,” Vangorder said.

Sophomore Rachel Towns, a second-year varsity player, added that the players’ bond has strengthened their overall game. 

“Our team chemistry has definitely grown a lot since the start of the season. You could see how much more fluidly we would go through plays and play defense as one whole unit,” Towns said.  

Towns added that their wins aren’t just energy and mindset, and that the dedication to the game played a key role for her as well. 

“A lot of that stems from how hard we work in practices and how hard our coaches work us,” Towns said.

The team currently sits at number two in the North Coast Section (NCS) division two, and is scheduled to play Archie Williams on Friday, Jan. 30.