Girls basketball has been on the winning train and the team looks to make their next stop at Poolesville High School, where they look to claw out the Falcons on Friday. They will be going for their eighth win on the season, after two amazing games against Walter Johnson and Blake high schools.

The girls basketball team updated the record to 5-1 as they beat the Blake Bengals here at the Mill, December 21. Great defense, boxing out and the team’s bench was the key to this victory. “When the coach put them in the game, they showed what they can do,” senior Rohky Sidibe said. The ‘Rines, “were more connected, we so much in common and we can work together,” Sidibe added.

The girls basketball squad used that same winning mentality on December 19 when they popped the Magruder Colonels out of their shoes with a 54-46 victory. The whole team was sick during the game but “we pulled through,” senior guard Kareling Portillo said. “Communication is something we still need to work on. Our defense, a lot of talking and we are learning how to work together, which is one of the main reasons I think we are doing well.”

Senior Shawna McDougall added 19 points to secure the win.  “At the time I was sick, so I was hoping that I wasn’t going to pass out or anything,” McDougall added. “At the time I was hoping that we would be more patient during the game because we were very positive that we would win so I was hoping we would take our time.”

McDougall overcame her sickness during the game by pushing through. “My coach, at half time, pulled me aside and was like I know you are sick but sometimes you have to work through it,” McDougall said. “It’s mental strength, which is something she tells us all the time.  She says that your body can take a lot and that if you just tell it that you can you can do it and I got back in and I felt better.”

Watkins Mill put another win under their belt when they faced the Wheaton Knights on December 14. The team came into the game a little shaky, keeping the Knights within one or two points, but they soon shook off all that rust and played a strong fourth quarter.

With great defense and the bench giving them a boost, the Lady ‘Rines went on a 8-0 run to seal their 53-48 victory. “We didn’t get a lot of turnovers and we passed the ball a lot…We looked for open shots and took them,” junior Heaven Atta said.