The Mountain View girls’ basketball team has a record of 3–17. At first glance, some might assume they have given up, but this team is full of endurance and heart. They may not be the best team or have the highest field-goal percentage, but every game they give their opponents a run for their money—playing aggressive defense no matter the score and diving for every loose ball until the final buzzer.
Izzy Tonniges, a sophomore on the team, says, “We may have a losing season, but our team has never stopped playing with heart, and we’re committed to coming back even stronger next season.” Just like Tonniges, the team has grit and determination to finish out this season strong, showing up to every practice ready to work, refusing to let the scoreboard define who they are. A freshman, Genna Laferriere, agrees with Tonniges, expressing, “I don’t think the score ever affects our hustle. I’m proud of our team either way.”
Through every practice and late-night bus ride, the players have grown closer as a team and as friends. Their record doesn’t show the countless extra hours spent in the gym, the bruises from taking charges, or the encouragement they give each other after a tough loss. What it does show is their refusal to quit. Every time they step onto the court, they carry the pride of Mountain View with them, determined to improve, play together, and leave everything out on the court.
