A foggy night swept through Kennesaw Friday, January 31, setting the tone for a fabulous fight between NC’s Lady Warriors basketball team (11-13) and the Walton Raiders (10-13). As the audience eagerly hoped, NC came out on top with a 37-29 final score. Following an electric pep rally, the Warriors ran onto the court, charged by the cheers echoing from the stands. Despite the team’s recent decrease in size, players including senior point guard Zoe Williams (3), took the court strong.
“In terms of practice, we listen and work on the other team’s scouting report and discuss how we plan to stop them. Then on game day, we listen to some good, hype music to get excited. Then we go out and have a good warmup… we take care of business” magnet junior and team manager Logan Kirkland said.
The Warriors started off strong with the first two points scored by magnet junior power forward London Reyes (11) in a round of free throws. As both teams worked toward respective two-point shots, the Warriors’ defensive skills shined against Walton’s efforts while sophomore power forward and small forward Jaidyn Taylor (44), Williams and freshman point guard Hananiah Bell (24) displayed notable teamwork in their passes by the goal. As the first quarter began to wrap up, a sense of intensity built up in the room with a 4-4 tie, but with the clock running down, the Warriors scored two points, cementing a lead they would not lose throughout the game’s duration.
As the second quarter began, NC started with the ball, an advantage that allowed Williams to score the game’s first three-point shot. As the game progressed, the senior continued to amaze the audience and her teammates with her precision. For Taylor, however, the second quarter provided ample opportunities to showcase her offensive and defensive talents. Scoring a three-point shot and two two-pointers while preventing Walton’s attempts at the basket time and time again, Taylor impressed the audience along with the rest of her team. As the Warriors claimed a score of 19-14, halftime commenced and both teams took the time to recuperate.
Following the break, tension rose in the air once again between the two teams. As the Raiders and Warriors swapped baskets, Williams again showed her skill with three-point shots, opening another quarter with the impressive feat. As the teams played, the ball seemed to pass through the hands of each team with dizzying speed as the Warriors’ impassioned supporters kept track. The flurry of activity ended with a score on the Raiders’ part, but each team soon called for a timeout to revisit their midpoint strategies. Following an impressive three-point shot by Bell, the Raiders repeatedly found themselves lined up for free throws with varying success. Just before the quarter’s timer ran out, Taylor broke the cycle and took the ball for the Warriors, drawing applause from the delighted onlookers. The quarter ended close, but NC still held the lead with a 27-22 score.
“I feel like we played well in the game today; it definitely showed how we’ve improved throughout the season. I’m most proud of how we persevere through challenges. My attitude is it’s only up from here, there’s always room for improvement and I’m extremely happy with how we did today,” Reyes said.
Entering the game’s final act, the Warriors displayed confidence even as the Raiders began to claw at their heels. Through the players’ teamwork, including the far-reaching passes between Bell and Taylor, the Warriors pulled through with score after score, reaching 39 points, including four in the final minute of the game. As the clock ran out, the Lady Warriors and their supporters swelled with pride at another successful venture on the court.
Though the day’s success signaled hope and excitement for the team’s underclassmen, it concluded with a special honor for the team’s senior player, Williams, the group’s soon-to-graduate managers, the senior players for the boy’s basketball team and the cheerleaders who will soon join the world outside of NC.
As the Lady Warriors continue their season, this win and the time to honor their seniors will surely boost morale and encourage an extended winning streak. They will next face off against the Cherokee Warriors (19-4) in a match to remember.