Sachems girls’ basketball has small numbers but mighty mindset

Dec 21, 2024

MIDDLEBORO—They may be few, but they’re fierce.

That’s the message that the Middleboro High School girls’ varsity basketball team wants to send to their opponents this season.

Their competitive mindset was evident in the intense concentration reflected on their faces as they took shots, made blocks and charged down the court ferociously during a recent team practice.  

With just nine varsity players on the team, the Sachems do not have numbers on their side.

But the team’s small size could be an advantage, said senior captain Jessica Perry. “I think [it’s] going to light a fire under us this year to prove everyone wrong. It doesn’t matter if we have a small team, we can still come out and play as hard as we can.”

Last year, the Sachems automatically qualified for the preliminary round of the playoffs but lost in the Round of 32 to Billerica Memorial High School.

This year, Sachems Head Coach Jeff Powers has high hopes for his team.

“They’re a good group. They’re very athletic. They work well together, and we’re just hoping to be as competitive as we can this year,” said Powers.

“We have a lot of [returning players] that I want to contend in the South Shore League,” he noted, adding “I also want to get into that Sweet 16. That would be nice.”

The team’s four seniors have grown close over the last four years and share a love for the sport.

“I play three sports, and [basketball] is the one I look forward to most,” said senior Brianna Rodrick. “It’s a smaller group and we’re all so close… it’s honestly like a family.”

The upperclassmen also share a desire to be as supportive as possible to their younger teammates. Perry’s goal as captain is to “be vocal, and make sure everybody has a spot on the team.”

“I had a rough freshman year. I was overshadowed by a lot of seniors, so I want to make sure no freshman feels that way,” she said.

Senior Natalie Kerstein, who plays basketball year-round and plans to join a collegiate team, also believes in giving everyone a chance to perform.

“As long as the team is in the positive when I’m on the court, that’s all that matters,” she said.

The fact that the team has a lot of returning players is an advantage. “We’re playing new teams as we’re still the same unit,” noted Rodrick. “I’m hoping to get further into the tournament [this year], and I think we can. Definitely.”

Another positive is that each player has a different skill to offer, she said. “It’s not one person doing everything. Someone’s good at layups, someone’s good at stealing the ball, someone’s good at [three pointers]. Putting it all together, we play really well.”

What the Sachems lack in numbers, they have in mindset. During a game, senior Sophia Moxley is focused on one thing. “I feel like everything else that goes on in my brain is shut off. All I care about is the court in the front of me,” she noted.

Moxley, who sat out all last year with an injury, buzzed with excitement during practice. “I love this sport,” she stated. “I’ve played basketball since I could walk. I played on varsity as a starter my freshman year.”

Still, Powers understands that the team’s small size will be a challenge this season. This season, his team will “have to figure out a way to play bigger than we are,” said Powers.

That means coming to every game prepared and putting in as much effort as possible. “It’s hard to beat a team that’s motivated, playing hard and prepared,” he said.