Mead’s varsity girls basketball team showed up on December 5, the home opener winning 63 to 45 against visitor Lutheran High School.
Throughout the entirety of the game, the players worked together to keep Lutheran in the losing position.
The starting lineup was Caroline Kron (‘25), Darby Haley (‘25), Elena Gomez (‘26), Maddi Clark (‘27), and Maddy Wright (‘26). The anticipation in the student section grew as they lost the beginning tip-off.
Minutes into the first quarter, Clark (‘27) scored the first three points in an incredible shot.
Clark (‘27) scored four three-pointers, three two-pointers, and multiple free throws throughout the game.
“We should be really proud of ourselves, and it’s taken a lot to get here,” she said, shortly after the student section cheered for the win.
Gomez (‘26) and Wright (‘26) gained a combined score of 13 points in the game, a mix of three-pointers, two-pointers, and free throws.
“The hardest part of the game was the refs, they called a ton of fouls,“ Clark (’27) said, “We needed to remember to keep our heads up.”
Coach Ward added to this, explaining how he wasn’t “thrilled” about all of the fouls, especially since they caused the game to run less smoothly.
After multiple fouls on both teams, Mead gained five points in the first half, making over 50% of free throws.
Going into half-time, the score was 32 to 26, with Mead leading its way to victory. Gomez (‘26) scored the first two points of the second half, and moments after Wright (‘26) swooped in to score a three-pointer, raising the score.
Coach and mentor Michael Ward, who has coached both boys’ and girls’ basketball for 30 years, was excited to see Mead win this game, explaining how, “The first three quarters were rough, but within the last quarter we pulled it together.” He was thrilled about this season and asked students to support the girls at the next home game, which took place on Tuesday, December 10.
Following an intense third quarter, Mead was up 43 to 36. In the final stretch of the fourth quarter, Mead won another 20 points, beating Lutheran who gained two points.
When the final buzzer went off to end the game and save the score of 63 to 45, the student section cheered with joy.
