The girls basketball season ended on a happier note than last year, with more wins and a flood of unforgettable memories.

In a packed gym decorated with balloons in the school colors and posters thanking the senior players, loud cheers of excitement erupted with each great play as the Panthers won a tight victory, 23 to 19, against Castilleja on Feb. 9.  The Senior Night game celebrated captain Abigail “Aby” Banales and other senior teammates, Ashanti Gardener, Amel Holliman and Lauryn Williams.

“I’d say the season went better than last year,” said sophomore Karen Tuuholoaki, who has been playing for two years.

The girls team overcame significant challenges along the way this season, the most difficult one being that there were only seven or eight players, which meant only a couple of people could sub in for the first-string starters.

“It was three games a week, and we would play against teams that had 14 players that filled up the bench, and we only had two to three subs,” Abby said. “Sometimes we were tired because we were sore or exhausted or just overall injured. but we had to push each other and still give our all in these games.”

Junior Ashley Kaage sprained her ankle the second to last week of the season and came to the Senior Night game on crutches, unable to play but cheering from the bench.

Overall, the team ended the season with 7 wins and 15 losses, but a positive attitude about their improvement from the previous year and optimism about the future.

“I’m sad that I won’t be able to see the way they grow,” Aby said.