With their last win, the junior varsity girls basketball team set a new record for the most wins in program history for the junior varsity team by finishing 26-2 overall and 10-0 in West Valley League play. The 26 wins tops the previous record of 25 wins set by the 2017-2018 team. So, this a major accomplishment given their already stellar record. This is especially impressive given that seven of the girls are freshmen and therefore new to the program.
“It was exciting to set a new record. I felt happy and grateful to have had the opportunity. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and Coach Nick,” sophomore Jensen Emi said.
Emi set a program record with ten three-pointers in a game against Taft High School and finished the game with 33 points. In basketball, making a three-pointer is impressive, ten of them in one game even more so.
This season, the team won two tournament championships and an outright West Valley League Championship. The tournaments include the Burroughs Gold Division Tournament Championship by beating all the top private schools in the area. As well as the 7th Annual Moorpark Christmas Classic Tournament Championship which feathered the top teams in Ventura County. Belle Paez was named All-Tournament of the Burroughs Tournament. Alyssa Goche was named All-Tournament of the Moorpark Christmas Classic and Jensen Emi was named Tournament MVP of the Moorpark Christmas Classic. The girls JV team battled their way to two tournament titles and a West Valley League Championship in one season, an admirable feat for any sports team.
These titles prove not only success, but also hard work, sacrifice and dedication from all the players. The team captains, juniors Ella Cousart, Belle Paez and Samantha Miranda, in particular worked to push the team into putting in their best effort in order to lead the way to success.
“Being a team captain was a really great experience. Since we had a younger team and I was one of the oldest, I always tried to boost their confidence and help them move past their mistakes since I knew what it felt like to be in their place. During practices and games I tried to fill the environment with positive energy to motivate them to play their hardest, confidently. I’m glad I was able to create a bond with all of the girls, I wouldn’t take back any of the memories we made as a team and I hope that we can all still play with each other again in the future,” Miranda said.
Coach Nick Kindel has put up legendary numbers during his five seasons as head coach of the JV team. In those five seasons, Kindel has led his teams to five West Valley League Championships, 12 Tournament Championships and has an overall record of 118-5. The future of the GHC Girls Basketball Program has had and will continue to make positive strides because of teamwork.
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