Eaglecrest girls basketball is a force to be reckoned with. And this season, they are out to prove just that. Beating Rangeview 49-40 on Dec. 7th --a team ranked 7th in the state at the time-- EHS girls basketball went on to win against Denver South 41-38 on Wednesday, December 15th. With a 7-2 record so far, the team headed to Las Vegas for the prestigious Tarkanian Classic on Friday, December 17th, going 3-1 and earning 5th place in the Ruby bracket.
This year, three juniors on the team are already attracting DI interest -- a new and exciting prospect for the team. With their program stronger than ever, girls basketball at Eaglecrest is providing new opportunities for its players. Hear from Nia McKenzie, Jolene Ramiro, and Laci Roffle about how the DI interest is affecting their outlook and their team this season.
DI Spotlight on EHS Girls Basketball
Eaglecrest girls basketball grows in both drive and talent every year. And nothing proves this more than the recent DI interest in multiple Eaglecrest girls basketball players. For three juniors, colleges are already in contact with potential DI offers -- offers that, as every athlete knows, are not easily earned. The fact that all three are attracting DI interest this early is a testament to both the program’s strength and the players’ tenacity. And for all three, the interest carries special meaning.
“I just want to win. I mean, I feel like that's everyone's goal, but definitely stay together as a team and accomplish our goals together.” - Nia McKenzie (Jr.)
Not only is the team attracting DI interest, but two senior players have already signed. A testament to their hard work, Alexa Back and Haley Esser officially committed to schools for basketball early in the fall. They each have had their own journey through the Eaglecrest girls basketball program, yet both describe a positive experience that helped to drive them to success.
Seniors and Signings
Senior seasons for any sport tend to be more emotionally charged and intense simply because the stakes are higher for a player in their last season. For driven players like Haley Esser and Alexa Back of the Eaglecrest girls basketball team, this season is more meaningful than most.
“Our goals are just to handle business pretty much because we’ve got a lot of teams that are really beatable this year. Our goal is to do as good as we can and as good as we should do, and just to make a name for ourselves. We're tired of being the underdog. We want people to respect us and not play us as their senior nights because they think they're gonna win.” - Haley Esser (Sr.)
But what makes the Eaglecrest girls basketball team so formidable this year isn't just their individual players. It's their team mentality, their synergy, their ability to be a cohesive whole. Coming out of a difficult year, their bond is stronger than ever; from newcomer freshmen to veteran seniors, they are undoubtedly a TEAM.
There Is No ‘I’ In Team
Building a team is an integral piece of success in basketball. Players rely on each other throughout the games, and being able to function effectively together can make the difference between a win and a loss. And for Eaglecrest’s girls’ basketball program, team building is a priority.
For Eaglecrest girls basketball, there is a promising future. With hard work, tenacity, and a cohesive, team mentality, the program is going strong and reaching for ever-higher goals. For many of these girls, there is no limit to their ambition and drive. And so, this season will undoubtedly be one to watch.