Vashon Island High School basketball

Co-Written with Carmen Sorensen

Swish. Cecilia Guenther dribbling down the court Klahowya. Photo credits to Alara Demir.

As the winter season approaches, the basketball team makes it halfway through the season. Basketball is very popular with the student body, as many students come to watch and support the Vashon Island players.

This year, the basketball teams will celebrate the five graduating girls and the six graduating boys playing their final season, along with celebrating a successful season with many wins. As one of the high school's most successful teams, the prep for games, game day rituals, and team connections are very important to ensure a good season and are some of the reasons both the girls and boys basketball teams are as successful as they are.  

The basketball teams have had so much success because of the team connections that have been made over the years. The bonds that players make with their teammates can determine how coordinated the players are with each other. With a new coach this season, the returning players are helping bring a sense of routine to the team. 

“I think we're actually really close this season. A lot closer than last, so that helps a lot, especially with a new coach that brings us all together,” Senior Rafferty Koefoed-Nielson said. Koefoed-Nielson has been playing on the team for four years.

In addition to the connections that returning players have made with each other in previous seasons, one of the ways that the team bonds is through the activities they do when they aren’t playing basketball. 

“Most of our team bonding was on the buses, and when we went to get food after the game or just cheering on our teammates,” sophomore Pierson Guenther said. 

With the shortage of players on the girls basketball team this year, the players are building very close friendships with one another. 

“Our team is so close…we all just have such a great relationship and it makes it really welcoming for all the new people who are playing this year,” Cecelia Guenther said.

Some of the players from the team shared what they are looking forward to this season. 

“We want to make it to districts and go far in districts, and me personally, on average, 10 and 10. Which is 10 points and 10 boards,” said Koefoed-Nielsen,. 

After tough games, players stay motivated by…

“Well, It was kinda hard last year. This year I think it will be easier because our coach is more uplifting and encouraging. I just think bouncing back is more of working hard in practice,” Guenther said.  

The basketball team has daily routines for practices and rituals for game days.

“We start by doing our pre-practice form shooting, and then move on to installing plays. We do drills, 3 on three, running, stuff like that," said Koefoed-Nielsen.

While the boys teams will switch up their practice, the girls tend to stick to a daily routine within their practices, while incorporating things to help build the team's bond. 

“We do the same thing every practice. We usually start, before the practice actually begins, with dribbling and shooting. We also started listening to music during practice this year,” Guenther said. Guenther has been playing basketball since middle school. 

The team is really looking forward to an inspiring and improved season. Many players find inspiration through famous players, coaches, friends, parents and so many other ways. Many people from our VHS basketball team have been playing since all the way back in elementary.  

“My original basketball inspiration was my 3rd grade teacher. I wasn't very into sports and then he kind of was like you should come to this practice. I think you would really like it,” senior Stella Nackos said.