Girls Basketball Rebounds with Strong Start

Mr. Moore discusses the game plan with the starting players before the game against Madison on December 18. Photo: Tiffany Tan

By IRIS LIN and CHLOE CHO

Iris Lin is a member of the Girls Varsity Basketball team.

The Girls Varsity Basketball team raised their record to 5-3 after claiming a 59-54 victory over James Madison on December 18. 

The Lady Hornets found themselves in a tight spot, holding a one-point lead against their Bedford opponent after the first quarter. By the end of the first half, it seemed like the girls had let the game get away, falling seven points behind. The team’s energy was low, and many of the players felt defeated.

“We didn’t come out as sharp as we needed to, and for most of the game, we were playing catch-up,” said Mr. Michael Moore, the team’s head coach. 

However, there was still one half left, and the Lady Hornets were still in the game. Encouraged by a halftime speech given by their coach, the girls entered the third quarter with a new mindset and attitude. 

‘They fought for every possession, played with urgency, and together, they sparked a comeback that shows what we can achieve when the buy-in is high and each player is doing their job,” said Mr. Moore.

“It was a game that showed our determination and team strength,” said junior guard Shayla Bowen. “We were down by a lot at one point, but we each played our parts and eventually everything fell into place.”

The team outscored Madison 40-29 in the second half, sealing a big victory in what has been an encouraging year so far.

The girls opened their season with a tough 91-17 loss against East New York Family Academy, one of the top teams in PSAL. However, the girls bounced back with two consecutive victories over Edward R. Murrow and John Dewey, by scores of 79-21 and 50-24, respectively.

The squad has shown significant improvement in their chemistry and skill set since last year, when they went 2-12. This was evident after their dominant 61-27 win over Fort Hamilton on December 16 and a 54-5 blowout over FDR on December 14. The Lady Hornets’ success this season shows the hard work, dedication, and growth they’ve embraced. 

Senior point guard Maria Tsirias leads the team with 19 total three-pointers and an average of 5.8 assists per game, also placing second in PSAL total assists with 46. 

In addition, sophomore center Iris Lin (one of the authors of this article) leads the team with 14.8 points and 13 rebounds per game, and power forward Dimitra Tsirias ‘25 is averaging 11.6 points per game. 

However, it isn’t just statistics that has played a role in Midwood’s comeback from last year; it’s also their team chemistry. 

“We always encourage each other no matter what and give each other advice to make sure we are all good at the end of the day,” said junior guard Kailin Gordan.

“When I start to go off track, my teammates remind me to just focus and relax, which helps me snap out of my slump,” said Maria Tsirias.  

“Everyone always supports and reassures each other,” said senior team manager Tiffany Tan. 

With the season past the halfway point, the players reflected on their performances as a whole. 

“We need to be more patient when we get the ball and take time to set up the offense,” said Dimitra Tsirias. “We tend to rush a shot on the first possession instead of waiting to see what the defense gives us.” 

Similarly, Bowen said, “Our team can improve on its ball movement, especially driving and kicking out to open shooters to help create better offensive opportunities.”

“I feel like sometimes our communication gets lost,” said sophomore small forward Soleil Vasquez ‘27. 

With any sport comes adversity—mentally, physically, and emotionally. The girls opened up about these challenges. 

“Right now I struggle with going to the basket,” said Dimitra Tsirias, who suffered a knee injury last year. “There’s a lot of mental aspects which make me fear the idea of re-injury.”

“For me, staying mentally strong and being more physical in games are areas I need to work on,” said Bowen. 

The Lady Hornets also paid tribute to their coach for not only teaching them how to become better basketball players but also developing their character. 

“I want them to understand that the standards and discipline I hold them to are never meant to make them feel limited, but to push them beyond their perceived limits and prepare them for life's challenges,” said Mr. Moore. 

The remainder of the season will present some trials for the team, putting them to the test. The girls need to win two more games to enter the playoff bracket, but the upcoming match-ups will not be easy. Nevertheless, the ladies will continue to push forward in an effort to finish their season with courage, confidence, and sisterhood.