Tori Vander Putten 

Back Page Editor

The Hammond Girls Varsity Basketball team ended their regular season with a record of 12-10, the best record in the past 17 years. Led by new coach, Ryan Hudy, the team not only defeated their rival, Oakland Mills, 70-62 but Senior Captain Imani Reid completed her goal of scoring 1,000 points over her high school career following in the footsteps of her mother and former coach, Raymona Reid. Imani noted that “it was weird adjusting to a new coach but when we actually got to know who he was and his methods of coaching that made everything easier.” Though the season started with a tough loss, the program had worked hard to end the season strong, ready to take on any challenge that playoffs may throw at them. Coach Hudy commented that “the most challenging part of the season has been getting the girls to realize their talent and how good of a team we can be.”

The team has done a phenomenal job of working together to come back after rough first halves and continuing to play their game after debatable calls. In their game against Marriotts Ridge February 25, the girls were down 3-14 after the first quarter yet never gave up and ended up winning the game 61-54, allowing them to achieve their winning record.

Senior Captain Taylor Liguori mentioned that, “the last time Hammond girls basketball had a winning record was 2002, so being able to come in senior year and have that winning record and have that winning mentality was a big part of why this season was great.” Coach Hudy worked day after day to push the team to be the best they could be and as the results show; this team is the best that Hammond has seen in a while.

Coach Hudy expressed his belief in his team by saying, “If we play together with 100% effort, we can do something special this year,” The team has given 150% effort and has done something special for themselves as well as for the school as a whole. Sophomore Jocelyn Fogle commented, “win or lose we just wanted to compete in every game,” and teams that may have expected to crush Hammond had to work hard to try to win in the last couple of minutes with a lucky shot or two.

On March 5, Hammond took to River Hill for a 2A South Playoff game. Unfortunately, the team lost a hard fought battle 50-48 leaving the team distruaght. Earlier in the season, River Hill beat Hammond easily, but this time they came back hoping for a game that would turn things around. “Even though it was a loss, I am so extremely proud of this team and where we ended up. We fought harder than any team I have seen and overcame so much adversity and although it hurts, I would not want to play for anyone else or with anyone else” exclaimed Taylor Liguori after the game.

For years to come, the 2018-2019 team will be known to have broken the dry spell and brought Hammond a winning record which is an achievement that all Golden Bears should be proud of. The girls will be able to look back and realize they were a part of something bigger than themselves.