Lady T-Birds make it to second round of nationals
Lane Johnson
Chinook Writer
The Casper College Women’s Basketball Team recently completed another season where the women won both the region IX tournament and the sub-regional tournament. The team posted an overall record of 28-5. For the Lady TBirds, this season marks the seventh North sub-region win in a row and added on their third region XI championship. The women earned a bid to the National Junior College Athletics Association national tournament for the fourth year in a row.
Pictured above (left to right) is Luca Acs, Saioa San Francisco, Andi Schissler, Arantxa Concepcion, Adama Badje, Logann Alvar, Angela Astorga, Anna Csenyi, Head Coach Dwight Gunnare competed in the second round of the NjCAA National Tournament. The team lost to Northwest Florida State after beating Blinn College in the first round. A second round appearance is the farthest the Lady T-Birds have advanced in the tournament since 2010.
Sophomore and All Sub-Region Guard Logann Alvar talked about how the season started slow because only three sophomores returned to the team this year. She said it took the young team a few games to get used to playing with each other.
“At the end of the year, when we had our end of season meetings, he just kind of emphasized how big of a role we were going to play,” Alvar said about last season.
Alvar explained that coming into this season, she knew the coaching staff held very high expectations, and she knew that the pressure for her was higher than her freshman year. Alvar highlighted that two of the team’s five losses occurred within the first two weeks of the season. One of those losses came from Northeastern Junior College, whom the Lady TBirds beat in the Region IX championship game.
Freshman teammate and guard Saioa San Francisco agreed with Alvar. After the first two losses, the team met to reflect and prepare for the rest of the season.
“That meeting made us really realize that we had to be a good team like last year. They were a good team, so we had to be a good team,” San Francisco said.
The Lady TBirds have not lost a game since the end of January. The Lady’s started off their tournament run looking strong with a first round win over Blinn College beating them 72-61. They went into the second round ready to face third ranked Northwest Florida State College. The Lady T-birds ultimately fell short losing 69-76.
CC will look forward to next year where they hope to replicate the success they had this season and continue to play for a national championship.
“I think next year, we’re going to be more prepared when the season starts,” San Francisco said.
The Lady TBird’s had eleven freshmen on the roster and hope that many of them will return for their sophomore season and build on this year’s success.
