The girls’ basketball team has been working hard this season, playing two to three games every week, along with everyday practice. “It is a lot, but we all love playing and practicing together,” junior Kaitlin Mariani said.

The girls got three big wins in a row, defeating Northwood, Rockville and Wheaton to end the month of January on a hot streak. The entire team contributed to the wins with several of the games being blowout victories. 

The girls faced off against Whitman at home on Feb. 2 in an important conference matchup. Going into the contest, both teams had the top two records in the conference. The game lived up to the hype as the score stayed close all the way until the end. With 15 seconds left on the clock, Whitman drove to the basket and took the lead with a layup. The Patriots now had the ball with one more chance, down by two points. The girls knew who to give the ball to for the last shot. Senior star shooting guard Caitlyn Kwan got the ball on the wing, pump-faked the defender, and stepped back for the game-winning three-pointer. The girls stormed the court, jumping in celebration. The final result was a 55-54 victory. “It felt amazing to make that shot to win the game against the first seed in our division,” Kwan said. 

Kwan has had an exciting season, breaking the three-point record and leading the girls to their best season in a long time. Mariani and junior center Amaris Palanga have also played large roles in the success of this team.

The girls played Quince Orchard at home on Feb. 4. The Quince Orchard team has a strong roster with several girls over six feet, making it a difficult matchup for the Patriots. The girls fought hard, but ultimately came up short, losing 52-47. 

The girls traveled to Blair on Feb. 8, looking to get back in the win column after the recent loss. The fans were chirping back and forth the entire game. The girls came out with energy and finished on top with a 58-44 victory. 

Following the Blair game, the girls lost a close one at home against Richard Montgomery on Feb. 10. 

The girls played Watkins Mill at home on Feb. 11 for senior night. Seniors Sam Keller, Sere Doumbouya and Abi Turner were congratulated before the game. The girls came out with energy, turning defensive steals into offensive layups to take an early lead. They cruised to a 74-19 victory. The girls also got the win at Gaithersburg on Feb. 15 with a final score of 59-33 to finish out the regular season. “We can use this win streak as fuel going into the playoffs,” Kwan said. 

The team finished the regular season with an impressive 14-5 record. The girls are set to play Richard Montgomery in the first round of playoffs at home this Friday and get redemption after their recent loss. “We are all really excited for the playoffs because the regular season was so fun. We have a week to prepare,” Kwan said.