After an intense home game against McNeil last week, the women’s JV basketball team restored their drive and faced off against the Manor Mustangs on Friday, Dec. 12. A tiring first half kept them in the lead 16-6, and while Manor fought hard for control of the ball during the second half, the Warriors took them out with a final score of 43-12. 

“We came out a little soft [in] the first half,” Varsha Shiva Ram ‘29 said. “ [At the beginning], our chemistry was a little rocky but then we got stronger. We picked up momentum in the second half.”

Elizabeth Lowe ‘28 took possession of the ball at the beginning of the first quarter, securing a strong head start against Manor 8-3. After a quick team huddle, Charlotte Dean ‘29 brought the score to 10-3 with a dodge and basket around Manor defense. Towards the end, both teams struggled to make progress, intensifying the atmosphere on the court. With this lull, the first quarter ended with a standstill of 10-3.

“My [strong skill] is probably three-pointers,” Lowe said. “I’m working on getting better at my defense and driving more.”

The Warriors pushed harder than ever opening the second quarter, with Lowe once again taking charge with a defensive block. Kylie Xu ‘28 followed with a pass to Ram, who made a jump shot from the paint, resulting in a frazzled Manor defense and a quick timeout call by the Mustangs. The Mustangs fought hard, but the Warriors ended the quarter still holding their 16-6 lead.

“Our guards are very good at shooting from a lot of different places,” Xu said. “I know they were frustrated [when they didn’t score], but [at the end], we [had] it all figured out.”

The Lady Warriors finally found their energy in the middle of the third quarter with Xu, who stealthily snatched the ball from a Mustang and turned around to make a jump shot, devastating Manor’s hope of a comeback with a score of 20-8. Afterwards, Xu and Dean swooped past Manor’s defense and scored multiple shots, ending the third quarter with a score of 27-8. 

“I think we wasted too many shots on the three-point line,” Xu said. “For me, I just have to mentally be there and locked in.” 

In the last quarter, the Mustangs were finally feeling the weight as the Warriors’ score increased rapidly. The Warriors were far in the lead at 38-12, but Lowe pushed the determination farther, executing a successful layup before a brief timeout. With just two seconds remaining on the clock, Alexa Rodriguez ‘26 jumped in and made a remarkable half-court, buzzer beater shot to end the game. The final score of the game was 43-12.

“We hype our teammates up a lot,” Xu said. “We cheer, we call their name, [and] we’re always there for them. Our coach [is the best too]. We rely on her [everytime]. She’s just amazing.” 

The JV women’s basketball team will take the court once again on Friday, Dec.19, against the Hutto Hippos.