For the Harrisonburg varsity girls basketball team, this season has gone not at all as expected. The team, filled with a young roster of only six returning varsity players, five of whom are sophomores, are learning to work together after the loss of many upperclassmen and leadership from last year’s team. Thursday, Jan. 9, the team took a step in the right direction in their game against the Rockbridge Wildcats. 

For the streaks with a roster of 11 girls, Thursday’s game was a success due to having 7 players score. The team, led in scoring by sophomore Mariah Cain, led Rockbridge 16-13 after only one quarter. However, Harrisonburg outscored Rockbridge 16-2 after a 12-0 run to start the second quarter, allowing the team to take a convincing lead going into halftime at 32-15. 

Head coach Durmount Perry believed the girls’ defense to be what set them apart from Rockbridge overall. In addition to Cain’s scoring, sophomore Ellie Muncy added nine of her own points and, despite a fourth quarter injury that sat her for the remaining minutes of the game, sophomore Jay Garcia also added six points. The streaks improved their overall record to 4-5 with the 58-43 win against the Wildcats at home.

Gallery • 6 Photos

Ethan Swift

Sophomore Mariah Cain and Jay Garcia get into position to receive the ball.