The girl’s varsity basketball team started their season with the Hinsdale South tournament in mid-November and are currently sharpening their skills on the court.

The captains of the team say their team has unlimited potential but they just need to harness their skills this season. The team has 6 underclassmen and said they all need to work together to be successful 

“There’s a lot of new people, so we’re just trying to figure out how we can work best together. I believe that our team actually does have a lot of talent, we’re just not sure how to use it yet,” said Bri Smith, current senior and captain on the team. 

The new head coach this year, Lawrence Lanciotti, believes the team has the ability to perform well. Lanciotti says that at practice and during games the girls work hard to perform their best.

“You know we have a lot of potential; it’s just if we can live up to our potential, so that’s what we work [on] in practice and the games and go from there,” Lanciotti said. 

Lanciotti has been coaching basketball for 34 years. This is Lanciotti’s first year as a head coach at South, and he was the girl’s varsity assistant coach for the last three years. 

The team captains this year say they have strong leadership and an abundance of positive energy to win. 

 “I want to be able to lead and help the team in whatever way is needed from me. We have a lot of underclassmen on the team, and I want to use my own experience to give them advice and make the whole team stronger,” said Grace Harris, one of the other senior captains.

The captains and the coach said optimism is needed this season to create a comfortable environment to play in. Despite staying on track and being productive during practice, the girls also love to laugh and have fun. At games, the energy of the crowd  contributes to the girls’ excitement.

“We would love to have more fans come out to our games. It motivates the girls; it adds to their excitement in it, [and] it adds to their pride in it. So the more people that come out the better,” Lanciotti said.

Although the girls had a shorter season last year, they are ready to come back stronger than before. They’re all very excited to have a full season and to grow closer with each other. Their last game before winter break is on December 17th at home vs. Joliet West.