In a home game X-factor event, the girls’ basketball varsity team lost to the Rio Americano Raiders 61-34 on Jan. 17.

As fans gathered in the stands to root on the girls, Victoria Kinsky sang the national anthem. The starters shook hands with the opposing coaches.

Sami Willis #5, Shelbi Meyer #12, Molly McConnell #14, Molly Miles #21 and Alana Scott #24 gathered on the court and got into their positions to start the game. Whitney got the ball first and but had it stolen before they could make a shot. As Rio Americano made their way back, Meyer fouled Rio Americano #33 Sierra Martinez, who made one of her two free throws. One of her teammates got a the rebound and put it back up for a two-pointer. In response the team ran a play and Meyer made a lay-up with 3:10 left on the clock, making the score 5-2 Rio Americano up. Rio Americano made four more lay-ups, ending the quarter with Rio Americano up 13-2.

The second quarter started with Rio Americano making the first score. Whitney did their triangle play passing from guard to guard until finding an opening and passed to Meyer who got fouled and made one of her two free-throws. Rio Americano made two two-pointers and and two free-throws with just under five minutes left on the clock. Willis was then fouled and made one of her two free-throws and while trying to get her rebound and rolled on the floor with an Rio Americano player. Rio Americano made 23 more points and Miles made a two-pointer that ended the quarter with Rio Americano up 10-36.

The third quarter started with Meyer making a lay-up and getting fouled, making four points all together. The girls ran through their plays and Meyer and Miles made four more points for the team. Rio Americano made a two-pointer and a three-pointer before Whitney regained control of the ball and attempted to make shots but missed and the ball was kicked out of bounds twice before Rio Americano made a three-pointer. Rio Americano made eight more points and Whitney made one last three-pointer, ending the quarter with Rio Americano up 52-21.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter Rio Americano started out with the ball and ran out of time as Whitney defended the basket until their 30 seconds was up. McConnell tried to make a shot and was pushed; she made one of her two free-throws. The game carried on as Rio Americano made seven more points and Whitney made two free-throws. At 5:32 Katrina (Kat) Nham #35 was injured and came out of the game for a short while. At the buzzer there were a total of five fouls and Rio Americano fouled once.

“I feel like we didn’t play as good as we could have, but having the entire student section cheering for the entire time just made it seem like we weren’t losing. It really boosted the team’s morale and helped us play hard even when we were losing. I think we can improve as a team on not turning over the ball as much and really taking advantage of easy opportunities to get points,” Willis said.

The team lost 61-34 but credited the crowd for keeping the players alive.

“The crowd we had there really got us motivated in the last half. Their energy was what made us want to play the game to our fullest. I think we need to work on being patient with the ball, and our conditioning needs to get better, but other than that we played great,” Meyer said.

The next girls’ varsity game is Jan. 22 at Whitney versus El Camino.

by ARIELLA APPLEBY