The co-Palomar League champions and Open Division semi-finalist girls basketball team advanced to the second round of the Division I State Championships against Brentwood School, March 6. After falling behind early, the Wolverines couldn’t make up the deficit, losing the game, 68-34. Point guard Sarah Heyn (11) said that the team was off their game, which made it difficult to complete plays and score.
“It was a tough game for us, if I’m gonna be completely honest,” Heyn said. “They’re a really good team and it’s hard to play against a good team when you’re not shooting well, when you’re not really passing, or your playmaking isn’t really going well.”
As point guard, Heyn found it difficult to make successful plays due to the other team face-guarding her.
“I was being face guarded throughout the whole game and it’s hard if I don’t start with the ball because I’m point guard, so nothing kind of happens,” Heyn said. “We had a lot of off-ball screens going for me, and a lot of cuts and passes off rotations. But, we stuck to our basics and our specific plays that we’ve been running all season.”
Despite losing, Heyn said that the team maintained high morale and kept fighting throughout all four quarters.
“I honestly think we did a good job of staying together,” she said. “[In the past,] we’ve struggled with when we get down, we kind of fall apart, but I feel like throughout this whole game, we had a really positive energy and no one ever blamed another person for a mistake that happened. We all just moved on to the next play.”
Heyn said that the team’s support for each other strengthened over the course of their season.
“I think throughout the whole season, we really gained each other’s trust and our chemistry was built upon game after game,” she said. “[It showed up] especially in the last game. Knowing that it could be our seniors’ last game, we really just wanted to have fun because we were playing together.”
Heyn also said that this teamwork was what allowed them to win their first-round state game against Hamilton, 45-42, March 5. With Westview seeded at 14th, and Hamilton at third, Heyn said she was proud of how they performed.
“We pushed the ball well and had good tempo and we just kind of focused on what each one of us likes to do,” Heyn said. “We got Makena [McLaughlin (11)] her shots and we got Mia [Jacobson (11)] her drives, and Katie Graves [(12)] had great passes that game. It just really helps out when we all have our jobs and we fill our roles and it all comes together.”
According to Heyn, the coaching staff helped the team fill their roles, especially with the addition of two new assistant coaches: Justin Wells and Jenn DeJesus helping head coach Melissa Peng.
“[Wells] and [DeJesus] both just really helped us grow,” she said. “I think having those extra coaches and having another person to talk to was so helpful for me because sometimes our head coach would be talking to someone else and I needed someone to ask questions or get advice from. [Wells] was one who was always there to help me, and I definitely think he helped me be able to become a better player.”
Heyn said that despite the loss against Brentwood, she was excited to have made it as far as they did.
“I’m totally proud of our team,” Heyn said. “I honestly wouldn’t ask for anything more. We’re co-league champs, and that was one of our biggest goals for the season. Also, just the fact that we made it to the second round of CIFs is another big accomplishment. We won a game [in states] which I’ve never had in my high school career, so it’s one of the best feelings ever.”
