00:00Coach, when was the last time you had success like this?
00:03I had to look it up. 2018 was the last time that we won this many games
00:10and this group just surpassed them with the win over Mepham.
00:14It's only the third time that Jericho has made the quarterfinals in girls basketball as well,
00:20which is very exciting.
00:22Jericho has not been great in the past.
00:25This is their third time this group of seniors making the playoffs.
00:30Which is another feat for the three of them that have been up since 8th graders.
00:34Making the playoffs for Jericho is a big deal.
00:37And advancing in the playoffs, it's only happened three times in their history.
00:41So we secured a home playoff game playing in the toughest conference in the double A's.
00:48So that was also special because we've never even received a home playoff game before, let alone 1-1.
00:55Every game that we've won in the past has been on the road.
00:58We had lost to Mepham last year, just last year in the playoffs.
01:03And we played them over there.
01:04So it was nice to get a little bit of revenge.
01:07And they are such a well-coached, hard-fighting team that, you know,
01:12the game was truly back and forth until the very end.
01:15Being able to win our playoff game has been really, really special to us.
01:19Especially since I was in 8th grade with a couple other girls and we've all grew together.
01:28And we've been able to practice and grow as a team.
01:32So being able to win our first playoff game was really, really, really special.
01:36Take me through what that was like with the atmosphere.
01:38Oh my gosh.
01:39Especially towards the end of the game, it was a really, really close game.
01:43But we just held it together.
01:44We all shared the ball and we were able to secure a win.
01:48So yeah, it was awesome.
01:49We used to be people's senior night.
01:52Yes.
01:53And people's where, you know, one school did a special event called Jam the Gym.
02:00And we were their sacrificial lamb when we first started.
02:04And that doesn't happen anymore.
02:06We have not been anybody's senior night, not even MacArthur when we played them last.
02:11And they know with this group that they're going to get their best effort.
02:15And, you know, young and veteran, there's a lot of talent on this team.
02:20We just have to match people's toughness and intensity.
02:24That has really been our issue with MacArthur.
02:27MacArthur just brings it like nobody else brings it.
02:31That team plays as hard as anyone.
02:33And with their talent, if you don't even come close to matching there, they just, they really take it to
02:40you.
02:40She should hit 1,300 in her career in the playoff game.
02:46She's had over 120 threes.
02:48She led Nassau County in scoring last year with 21 points a game.
02:54She's three-time All-County.
02:56She was All-State last year.
02:58She's just modest.
03:00But I'm telling you, she has had as good a career as I've seen here in a very long time.
03:07And, you know, she's also just the ultimate team player.
03:12When she was younger, I had to beg her to shoot more.
03:15She distributed the ball.
03:17And just seeing who still, to this day, like in practice, she'll get it and move it.
03:23And I'll have to go up to her and tell her, in the game, you're shooting that, right?
03:26Because I want you to shoot that.
03:28But she just makes everyone around her better.
03:31And, you know, all season, she has been face guarded and boxed in one.
03:36And still is in the top 20 in scoring in the county at 15 points a game.
03:41So, she's just a special player.
03:45What's so special about playing on this team?
03:47What's so special is I think that everyone on the team has their own role.
03:52But we can all shoot as well.
03:54I feel like everyone's equally the same threat from outside the perimeter.
03:58And I think that's what makes us a really special team in Hardeguard.
04:02Sadie and them who have been on the team for five years.
04:04What have you seen from them that's kind of helped you fill this role
04:08and, like you said, feel very comfortable in what you're doing?
04:11Just, like, on the court, they're very experienced.
04:13Same as, like, off the court.
04:15They are able to handle their emotions, like, way better than I am.
04:18And, like, I really, like, admire them.
04:21And I try to, like, learn from them as much as I can.
04:23Are your coach and your teammates helping you boost your confidence even further?
04:26Yes.
04:27Because I feel like they're some of my biggest advocates.
04:29They, like, speak up for me, like, especially my coach.
04:32Like, he'll yell at the referees, even though, like, he might get a technical.
04:36But it just makes me feel...
04:37One time.
04:38One time.
04:39I've been calm this year.
04:41But it makes me feel more supported in that win.
04:43Like, there's obviously a chance that this will be our last game together.
04:47But, obviously, I'm just going to do our best.
04:50And I know that we always, like, give, like, our best effort on the court all the time.
04:54So, even if, like, we end up not winning and it doesn't go our way, I think I'll still be
04:59super satisfied just, like, with our team and our overall season.
05:02I'm really, really happy with how we played as a team this whole season.
05:06The memories that we made are uncomparable.
05:09I mean, we've shared laughs on and off the court.
05:12So, it's really been an amazing experience.
05:14I wanted them to feel that happiness and joy together that they've earned over their five years.
05:20And, you know, we returned 11 kids from last year.
05:24And they had a goal to get this far and hopefully further.
05:28But, you know, we know it will take a monumental effort to be able to compete with McArthur.
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