The Lady Bear Varsity Basketball team has finished regular season district play and after finishing fourth in district with a 4-6 record, has advanced to  the first round of playoffs. The Lady Bears will face Diboll in the Bi-District round at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13 at Kountze High School.

The team has set many goals and taken on many challenges this year. When having to work as a team and aim for the same goals, trust is an important characteristic to have. Head basketball coach Linda Riddick said she sees this from her players every day.

“At this point in the season, they are working well together both on and off the court,” Riddick said. “They have come to rely on and trust each other.”

The Lady Bear Basketball team focuses on more than just performance. Unity, building friendships, and making many memories are also some of the team’s priorities this year. With only two returning players, the team has had to learn how to work together in order to achieve their goals. This has proven to present its challenges, but has ultimately made the team stronger.

“Our main goal this year was to come together as a team,” Riddick said.

Senior Madeline Garrison said that the team is all about building relationships with others and this year’s team has made a huge impact on her life. One of the things she will cherish most is playing with the people she loves. Because of the sport and the team, she said she has grown in skill and leadership.

“I always try to help others and be an example in every way possible, always making sure people are doing there best and always doing the right thing,” Garrison said.

One of the biggest achievements during a high school athlete’s career is to be on the varsity team and this is a very rare thing for many freshmen. However, sophomore Renna Toomey has been on the varsity team for two years now. Being on the team as a freshman allowed her to become a better player, because of the help of the upperclassmen on the team that year. Toomey said her personal goal for this season is to become a better player, in hopes of benefiting the team.

“As the season progressed, I was grateful for the seniors I had,” Toomey said.

With the rest of the team having the same drive as Toomey, the team has been able to have consistent improvement. As the team learns how to work more fluently together and gets closer to their set goals, they are able to grow as individuals.

“I’ve just learned so much, not only about basketball, but about life,” junior Jacie Miller said of competing with the Lady Bears this year.

Senior player Alyssa McKellar said being on the team has impacted her life as well. Being a senior on the team has allowed her to grow in her leadership abilities and shape her into the person she is today. Basketball has taught McKellar and others that good things do not come easy.

“We’ve learned to always work hard because things aren’t handed to you,” McKellar said.

The Lady Bears are always working hard to to achieve their goals, while also building relationships, learning life lessons, and creating memories to last a life time.

“[The basketball team] It truly is a family,” McKellar said.