Charlyn Chu is a junior on the RM Varsity Girls Basketball team, and brings us this inside account of the team’s successful season.

The entire gym was silent as Coach Oakes asked the team, “How do you guys feel after last night’s game?” The responses were immediate and raw.

“Disappointed.”

“Angry.”

“Embarrassed.”

The defeat to Whitman High School left a bitter taste in our mouths. We had been so sure that it would be Coach Oakes’ 100th win, but the final score was a devastating loss, 45-28. To make matters worse, this was the one game that his family came to watch, and the loss weighed heavily on us.

“We let a lot of people down that night. It was so frustrating to lose like that,” junior Emma Karlin said. “But after the Churchill win, it was the complete opposite.”

Only three days later, we faced off against Churchill High School, a team with an undefeated record. And we dominated, winning 49-26. Flowers and balloons awaited Coach as we celebrated his 100th victory.

“Beating them was a mid-season boost for the team and it felt good to see our efforts be rewarded,” senior captain Mackenzie Caldwell-Degnon said. “I watched that game, like, ten times.”

We ended the next two weeks with two wins and two losses. The fourth game was against Churchill, in which they avenged their previous loss. Coach Oakes had missed the match due to a family matter, but he had seen the outcome on film. His words the following Monday rang clear, “It’s winning time. We’re not losing anymore.”

Our practices that week were a well-oiled machine. We flew through shooting drills like Maryland 180 and sank UConn layups without missing a beat.  Assistant Coach Sam Griffin ran different late-game situations that tested our ability to execute under pressure. We had the mindset, the energy, and the encouragement we needed to push ourselves and each other to new heights.

Starting from the Blair game, to Clarksburg, to Walter Johnson, all the way to Whitman in the regional-quarterfinal, we did not disappoint. Our resilience shined especially in the Damascus game, where we had been down a point at halftime but dominated the second half to a victory of 54-43. With a winning streak of 10 and undefeated outside of the 4A West division, we were unstoppable. 

Our rematch against Whitman was the final test. We were losing by eight points in the third quarter, but the team would not be denied. We outscored our opponent 15-4 in the fourth quarter. That night, there would be no anger or disappointment. 

“Beating Whitman in the region quarterfinals was a huge accomplishment for us. The week leading up to that game we utilized every practice preparing for it, so getting that playoff dub felt amazing,” sophomore Corinne Howard said. Assistant Coach Claire Hannan said her faith in us never wavered. “Not once did I doubt you guys. Not once did I think we were going to lose.” Our season ended with a close game against the Bulldogs on Feb. 27 in the regional semifinals.

“During our final game, it was an amazing feeling going into halftime having it be so close. The game was right in front of us and it gave us the extra courage to keep fighting, even if the outcome wasn’t the one we wanted,” Howard said. Despite the sadness of the season’s end, our hearts were filled with pride at what we had accomplished as a team. As a family. We cried, hugged, and comforted each other.

“Great crowd, intense playoff atmosphere versus an excellent opponent. No regrets, you left everything on the court! Congrats to Mack and Liza on their 4-year varsity careers. You have left a strong legacy, and next year’s team will keep it going!” Coach Oakes texted the group chat shortly after.

“During the game, I felt really motivated. Like this was anyone’s game. I definitely do have some regrets though,” Karlin said.

“It’s easy to nitpick when you lose, but at the end of the day I’m really proud of us,” junior Kayden Siegal said. 

One thing we were taught was to never let the highs get too high and the lows get too low. We learned to savor the wins and learn from the losses, but to never dwell on them too long because there was always a next game to focus on. It feels a little weird now that there’s no next game, but at the same time, it’s good to know that we can cherish these memories for as long as we wish. Until next season.