After 60 Seconds Of Pain Last Year, Rams Hope For Season Of Joy

There are 60 seconds in a minute, 60 seconds to make or break a game. And 60 points to end a season.

For Highland’s Lady Rams, the number 60 is not one of their more favorable numbers. With close to a minute till the final buzzer sounded, Highland lead Springville by seven in what would be their last game of the season. For after the first second of their final minute ticked away, Springville pushed the ball aggressively up and down the court, closing the point differential between the two teams. As a result, Highland lost unexpectedly in the first round of the 2014 post season, 66-60 to Springville, in a heartbreaking overtime loss. Trailing for the entirety of the game, Springville tied the game up just before the final seconds ticked away. With momentum on Springville’s side, the Lady Rams had trouble making anything click in the final minute of overtime, allowing for Springville to advance in the postseason, ending what had been Highland’s most successful season in years.

This outcome, although devastating, serves as a symbol of legitimate hope for the future of the girls’ basketball program at Highland, especially for head coach Jeremy Chatterton.

“Springville went on to take state,” Chatterton said. “Knowing that we were up seven with a minute to go, I think it was motivating to our girls, in terms of building a new program, in establishing who we are and knowing we are capable of playing at the top level of 4A.”

Nonetheless, with any devastating loss in overtime, especially in the postseason, it is not uncommon for teammates to resent each other for things that went wrong. These types of losses often times rip and tear team chemistry apart, leaving teams scattered with grudges and regrets. And with last season’s loss, it wouldn’t be a surprise to find that the team chemistry would take multiple games to build upon. Although, according to senior Jasmine Hangsen, team chemistry should not be an issue this season.

“We have a really strong bond that doesn’t stop off the court,” Hangsen said. “A loss like that couldn’t destroy our team chemistry altogether, it can only make us stronger.”

Win or lose, the Rams are in it together, something important to any team in search of a championship come early spring. The work won’t come easy, but with a preexisting bond, the Rams focus will be on translating that connection to fluid play on the court.

“We’ll need to work on playing together as an offensive unit this season,” senior Sylvia Schulte said. “We all have our own individual talent, and although we already do a pretty good job of it, playing together as one team will be the most important aspect of practice if we want to win this season.”

The devastation of last year was also accompanied by the loss of Highland’s best talent on the court, Ma’ata Epenisa. Standing at an even six-feet, Epenisa was an offensive power in the post that Highland relied on greatly. With her departure through graduation last spring, Hangsen understands the role she needs to play, not only as an upper classman, but also as one of the tallest girls on the team.

“As a senior, I feel like I need to step up a lot,” Hangsen said. “Because we lost Ma’ata, a really big part of the team, it is going to be important to establish an actual post presence this season.”

However, the pressure to perform will not entirely be on Hangsen’s shoulders. Highland’s success last year, although benefiting greatly from Epenisa’s play, came from each player that competed at the varsity level. With big help last season from this year’s sophomore class, Highland returns great talent, not only from the starters, but from the bench as well.

“This season, every person on the team is good, not just our starters,” Schulte said. “It is something we haven’t been used to in the past, but our overall talent is much stronger this season.”

And according to Chatterton, the overall basketball intelligence of his girls this season outmatches any team he has coached here at Highland, something he isn’t use to seeing in such a young team.

“We have some girls this season with a high basketball IQ,” Chatterton said. “They understand how to play the game well which should lead to a really good opportunity to be successful this season.”

As the team checks chemistry, experience, and overall talent off their list of things to improve on from last season, the final aspect in need of improvement is basic fundamentals. Overall possession of the ball on the offensive end is obviously key, but Hangsen knows of the importance to control tempo while attacking the hoop. And the best way to do that? No turnovers.

“We definitely need to minimize turnovers, because that’s basically what ended up costing us a state championship last season,” Hangsen said.

Ironically, with tryouts ending just over three weeks ago, it should be noted that nearly 60 girls came out looking to land a spot on the team this year. A wide variety of girls to choose from, and with the stated improvements in mind, the Lady Rams are ready to execute in every second and minute that passes before the season starts. Looking to capitalize on every 60 they encounter, whether it be in time or points, the Lady Rams will make strides towards the one title that truly matter, a state champion.