It’s that time of year again; basketball season is here! The women’s basketball team at Franklin High School is feeling pretty confident about this season. Year after year, the team continues to bring pride to our school with passion, dedication, and most importantly — love for the game. Last school year, Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) named the team an all-state qualifying girls team. This title is not without lots of hard work; the team trains hard for the season each year with pre-season workouts leading up to the start of season. Tryouts began in mid-November, instructed by Head Varsity Coach Erin Brunton. Games will start mid-December with a schedule of home and away games accessible on Trivory, the OSAA website, or instagram under the handle @franklingirlsbasketball_.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a team without its players. They are a group of very dedicated basketball players; including Peyton Miles, a junior on varsity, and Charlotte Storrs, a senior on varsity who has played nearly every position in basketball. “I’ve been playing basketball since fourth grade and I chose basketball because my brother played,” says Storrs. Miles shares that not many see the effort that goes into each season: “Not many people see how much hard work the girls put into the team, going to extra practices before games, practicing before school, getting workouts in on their own — the girls on the team are super dedicated.”
Franklin athletes on the team don’t just play in the winter Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) game season. The team also participated in a summer basketball program started by Oregon State University. This camp focuses on a variety of game situations, scrimmages, full-length games, team practices, and individual competitions. It also includes one on one games, and a training room that offers the support of college-level trainers. This creates a very fierce environment and competitive camp.
While they play and practice hard, it’s not only about the competition, but also the connections and friendships within your team. Similar to many sports, basketball holds a senior night to honor their seniors at the end of the season. This is when they focus on their beloved seniors and share their best memories as teammates. “My favorite thing about the team is the team love we have for each other,” Storrs shares.
It’s fair to say this season will be full of surprises and hopefully very rewarding for all the players’ hard work and dedication to basketball. “From pre-season conditioning to summer league, we all put in [the] work,” says Lillie Hansen-Tuma, a junior on varsity and dedicated member of the team. This team has won countless competitions and continues to go on to rise above, as they look forward to their upcoming season.
