March 15, 2026
By Alexandra Lourenço
Editor-in-Chief
Following a 45-30 away victory against Bloomfield High School on Feb. 19, the girls basketball team completed its regular season with a 13-12 record.
Senior captain and point guard Juliana Gonzalez, a four-year varsity member, said having five new athletes on the team posed challenges.
“Last year, we had [eight] seniors [that] we were used to playing with,” Gonzalez said. “This year, there were [three] freshmen, so we had to build new chemistry and learn how to play together.”
Gonzalez said her greatest accomplishments on the team have been strengthening her basketball and leadership skills alongside her fellow captains, seniors Brooke Harper and Gianna Lembo.
“From freshman year, looking out, seeing how much I’ve evolved as a player and all the skills and the new mindset that I have [shows that] I’ve come a long way,” Gonzalez said.
“The season [had] a lot of ups and downs, but we never once gave up. Every game we [gave] our all, no matter what the outcome [was].”
Lembo, a three-year varsity member and power forward, said serving as a captain has made being on the team more exciting.
“I love leading the other girls and having them look up to me. It’s pushed me to set a better example and be more positive,” Lembo said. “I’m so grateful for the past two years of learning from my wonderful coach, [Head Coach Kesack], who showed me what it truly means to be a leader.”
She said one of the players’ strengths is their determination.
“The season [had] a lot of ups and downs, but we never once gave up. Every game we [gave] our all, no matter what the outcome [was],” Lembo said. “Even [as] the season [was] winding down, we still [had] hard practices to challenge ourselves, make us better and prepare ourselves for the state playoffs.”
Freshman point guard and small forward Sisi Al Sahmarani, a first-year varsity member, ended the regular season with 212 points, the second-highest on the team, behind Harper with 293.
She said she attributes her success to her dad, who played basketball in high school.
“He supports me by telling me what to do, showing me plays before the game, showing me stats of the girls before the game, coaching me after the game, going over the game by rewatching it and explaining my mistakes,” Al Sahmarani said.
She said she looks forward to honing her skills.“My expectations are to be a better shooter by next year and a better ball handler,” Al Sahmarani said. “In the offseason, [our team is] going to train together and join an [Amateur Athletic Union] team together, so we can build better chemistry [to be] all ready to go into next season.”
