by Declan O’Malley
Sounder contributor
It’s once again basketball season at Orcas High School, and both the boys’ and girls’ teams are gearing up for another exciting campaign on the hardwood. This year, the Vikings will compete in the 2B classification, a step up in competition.
“We face a challenge moving up to the 2B classification this year, but I believe the outlook for this year’s boys’ and girls’ basketball programs is incredibly promising,” said Orcas Athletic Director Paul Steimel. “With a strong core of returning players who bring experience and leadership, combined with an exceptionally high turnout of athletic and motivated new faces, we have the talent and depth to compete at a high level. The energy in the gym reflects the dedication of our coaches, and both teams are poised to make a statement this season.”
The girls’ basketball program is preparing for the challenge of playing at the 2B level and continuing to develop as a cohesive unit.
“Our team is focused on building connection and growing as players and as a unit,” said Head Coach Haley Cruz Winchell. “We know that there is a lot that goes into winning a basketball game, and some key deciding factors are drive and effort.”
Cruz Winchell is eager to showcase her team on the court and make the community proud through a successful regular season that she hopes will continue into the postseason.
“When folks come to watch our games, they are going to see these players give it their all on the court. Our goal is to be playing basketball the entire month of February, and beyond,” said Cruz Winchell.
The Lady Vikings’ roster will feature a strong core of returners, including scoring leader Sofia Mahony-Jauregui and Charlotte Winter-Lamphere, who has continued to develop her talent. Coach Cruz Winchell is also hopeful for big contributions from two seniors returning after taking a break last season.
“We have seniors making a comeback after taking a year off, and they’re going to be major players this year. Ava Ashcraft and Lili Malo will definitely be leaders on the stat board,” Cruz Winchell said.
To prepare for the season, several players attended intensive camps this summer, learning valuable drills and skills they’ve brought back to the team. The squad hit the gym right after the spring sports season and showed strong commitment in their summer workouts. Many of the players are multisport athletes, maintaining year-round conditioning.
The Vikings will face a tough schedule, with highly anticipated matchups against Mount Vernon and Friday Harbor.
“We’re planning to bring home a lot of wins this season, but we’re also counting the little things as wins — like improving individual stats, cheering each other on and building authentic relationships where we can trust our teammates,” said Cruz Winchell.
As of this article, the Lady Vikings are 2-1, with wins over Granite Falls and The Bush School. Their lone loss was to Mount Baker High School.
To catch Orcas High School basketball in action, visit www.orcasvikings.com for a full schedule of games.
