On Jan. 16, McLean’s girls junior varsity basketball team competed at home against Wakefield. McLean stepped onto the court determined to strive towards their first win of the season, and began the game offensively after winning the tipoff.

The first quarter displayed McLean’s strong-willed teamwork as they took the lead 2-0 within the first two minutes, but Wakefield quickly fought back with a three pointer. Freshman Dahlia Parker scored both a layup and two point shot and the game extended 7-3. After an intense back and forth battle, the first quarter ended with a score of 11-5.

“We really improved our rebounds and our shots for this game,” sophomore Lila Adams-Christian said. “We also had very good zone defense [which] we really worked on.”

Wakefield began the second quarter with two points at the free throw line, but the Highlanders quickly regained possession and continued with their strong momentum throughout the second quarter. Adams-Christian displayed admirable hustle on the court and scored twice halfway through the quarter. As the first half came to a close, the Highlanders held a significant lead of 22-7 before heading to the locker room.

“The most important thing for our team is strong defense,” assistant coach Tom Ball said. “

After halftime, the Warriors began to heighten their efforts, and slowly began to catch up to the Highlanders. The Highlanders responded with increased attention to defense and a strong emphasis on claiming rebounds. The quarter paused in a moment of tension when sophomore Farah Elzein was injured and had to leave the court. Luckily, the team was able to recover as they rallied around their fallen teammate, widening their lead to a 25-16 score with three quarters in the books.

“[The team] was able to come together and lots of players were able to sub into the game,” Ball said. “Everyone worked well together and it was great to see their resilience.”

Although the Highlanders continued to work hard in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, the Warriors began climbing back and closing the gap. McLean was able to focus on their defense and prevent Wakefield from taking the lead, highlighting the team’s exceptional teamwork and determination. As the final buzzer echoed through the gym, the Highlanders celebrated their first win with a 38-25 victory over the Warriors.

The team hopes to continue their momentum into next Thursday, Jan. 22, where they will face Langley High School in a rival match at home.

“Being able to win our first game was really rewarding,” Adams-Christian said. “Getting to build our friendship connections within the team was definitely a big part of the success.”