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Looking for a player to pass the ball to, Elizabeth Lowe ’28 dribbles the ball across the court. As point guard, Lowe ran the offense and made sure the pace of the game was just right.
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Starting the tip off for the first quarter, Mantra Vivek ’28 jumps high to claim the ball. The Warriors dominated the court throughout the first quarter despite fighting a strong defense.
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Surrounded by a pit of Vipers, Julissa Rodriguez ’28 makes a risky dive after the ball. During the game, Rodriguez was the most valuable player, scoring multiple baskets.
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Thinking fast, Alexa Rodriguez ’26 pivots away from a Viper. Both teams were evenly-matched, showing off strong defense throughout each quarter.
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Sitting shoulder to shoulder, the JV women’s basketball team listens to Coach Juenke’s talk on keeping reflexes and defense strong. The team’s chemistry throughout the game allowed the Warriors to push further into the lead.
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In a tangle of legs and arms, Ana Correa ’28 battles three Vipers for the ball. During the game, multiple steals occured, the intense wrestling bringing up the energy.
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Ambushing from behind, Isla Wilson ’28 thursts an arm before a Viper, trying to block them from passing the ball. Isla was a strong player throughout the game, playing aggressively right to the end.
After suffering a defeat against Round Rock in their previous home game, the JV women’s basketball team entered the court with new energy against the Vandegrift Vipers on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Though the Vipers fought desperately, the Warriors eventually overpowered and ended the night with a final score of 41-32.
“In the first quarter, the energy was really good,” Rebekah Hatala ‘27 said. “We still made some mistakes, but [stood our ground] in the second quarter. After halftime, we [swang] the ball which made [Vandegrift] tired and allowed us to get open shots.”
The Warriors claimed the tip off in the first quarter, only for the Vipers to make a steal. Westwood held a tight defense but Vandegrift scored first, putting them in the lead 2-0. Varsha Shiva Ram ‘28 scored a three-pointer next. After two fouls committed by both teams, Julissa Rodriguez ‘28 followed with a jumpshot, closing the first quarter 7-5 with the Warriors in the lead.
“Honestly, I was relieved that [the ball] went in,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve been pushing more during practices, and [Coach Juenke and Coach Payton are always] helping me be consistent with my shots.”
Both teams scored within seconds to open the second quarter, increasing the score to 10-9, the Warriors now down by one. Not long after, Kylie Xu ‘28 came up for a layup, putting the Warriors in the lead 11-10. After multiple steals and a basket from the Vipers, Ram nailed a two-pointer. Both defenses held strong, making it difficult for either side to score continuously. Nearing the end, Rodriguez tied the score 17-17, but a foul by the Vipers last-minute allowed the Warriors to surpass by one free throw point, ending the second quarter 18-17.
“Our whole energy was up and I was really happy,” Rodriguez said. “We kept on scoring and we never put ourselves down.”
A jumpshot by Rodriguez in the beginning of the third quarter buried the Warriors further in the lead at 20-17. However, the teams tied once again, holding out the score 20-20 for a while before Mantra Vivek ‘28 dodged past the Viper’s defense for a layup, breaking the tie 22-20. Vandegrift fell back into foul trouble, allowing Rodriguez to win two points for the Warriors, pushing further into the lead. Seconds after a score from Vandegrift, Rodriguez followed with a shot just outside the three-point line. Ana Correa ‘28 kept the energy high with one last shot, swooping past Vandegrift with a stable 31-23 lead closing the third quarter.
“I came in with this mentality that I needed to play harder, and push myself to [win],” Ana Correa ‘28 said. “[Vandegrift] is definitely a strong team, but we came out really good tonight and our strength overpowered them.”
The Warriors were safe in the lead, but they did not lose focus. Alexa Rodriguez ‘26 opened the fourth quarter strong with a shot at the three-point line. Xu soon swooped in with a dodge and basket, bringing the score to 39-28. The Vipers fought desperately, eventually increasing their score by four points. However, it was not enough to defeat the Warriors, who gave it their all. The final score was 41-32.
The JV women’s basketball team will face off against the Vista Ridge Rangers on Friday, Jan. 16.
