The girls were a real powerhouse last year.
Check out photos from last year:
The girls huddle at a Westhill Vikings game.
Vanessa Budd has her head in the game.
Leslie Yuen furiously dribbles the ball during a game.
Strength and Skills
A Preview of Girls' Basketball
By Emily Close - 10/12 More by Emily Close
There comes a time each year when hundreds of DHS senior athletes have to say goodbye to a sport they’ve put four enduring years of determination and spirit into and, for most fall sport seasoned athletes, that time has come. With fall sports FCIAC and State tournaments coming to a close, winter athletes are beginning to warm up for the next few months that could define their college careers. For three senior athletes that sport is girls’ basketball.
Last year the girls were poised to make a run into the State Tournament, but ended up suffering a loss in the first round to none other than New Canaan. With the 2010-2011 seasons just around the corner the girls basketball team is looking forward to another successful season on the court.
“We are going to have a great season this year. We have a strong freshman class coming in and our offense continues to remain strong,” senior captain Nicole Buch said.
Last season the girls finished with an 11-9 record, but there is no doubt that this record can be improved. The team has got a lot of work cut out for them in order to compensate for the loss of seniors Liz Calby (Dartmouth), Taylor Wells (Wesleyan), AnnaRae Anderson (Salve Regina), and Leanne Stone (Washington and Lee) who all graduated last year.
When asked about whether the girls basketball squad would be able to amount to the success they achieved last year, senior Julia Boulton said, “I think we will do well this year - our starting lineup is strong and we have very good skills as well as speed. We have not played together very much yet, but once we do I have no doubt we will work great together.”
Freshman at Washington and Lee and a key component to the team last year, Leanne Stone said, “We can definitely be as good as we were last year. We had some very strong younger players who had their building year and now are ready to be standouts and I know that these Captains will lead the team well.”
This year the Wave will be led by senior captains Julia Boulton, Nicole Buch, and Shannon Burke. Julia will make her presence in the paint, while Buch will be controlling the offense from the point guard position. Buch will hope to start from where she left off last season, scoring 26 points to end the 2009 season.
Other than the seniors, the Wave will have many other players that will be big factors in contributing to the team’s success. Sophomores Meg Marren and Kate Bushell will be helping out at the post, and hope to be able to prove themselves as offensive as well as defensive presences throughout the season.
Freshman at Wesleyan College and one of last season’s four stand out seniors Taylor Wells said, “I really think the incoming freshmen will make a difference and the rising sophomores will definitely prove what an essential part of the team they are.”
The girls had a few tough losses that kept them out of the FCIAC tournament last season, but this year, one of their goals will be set high on qualifying. Aside from playing in the FCIAC tournament, the girls will hope to avenge their early exit last year in the State tournament, and hopefully make a run at the state championship.
The team recently hosted its tryouts in late November prior to tryouts the girls practiced during the fall season to get ready for the upcoming season. The schedule this year will be similar to past years in that Darien will face many tough opponents and will have the opportunity to prove themselves with 19 games in the regular season. The team will hit the ground running with a game against Bridgeport Central on December 8th. Come watch the girls basketball team as they gear up for a season of hard work and lots of Blue Wave Pride.
