Last year, the Parkland Middle School Boys Basketball Team finished their season with the best record in school history; this year, it was the girls’ turn to shine.
As the final buzzer sounded this Thursday, the Parkland Girls capped off their own historic season with an impressive record of 6-0. Their final victory, a 31-22 triumph, came against their toughest opponent of the season, Farquhar Middle School. “Last year, they kind of blew us out. This year, we came back with the mentality that we couldn’t let that happen again,” said Charlotte Whaling, one of Parkland’s eighth-grade starters. Alongside fellow starters Orlia Tabue, Myla Tran, Dahlia Field-Roseman, and Isabella Cabrera Vargas, Charlotte helped Parkland score the first points of the game and maintained the lead throughout.
The gym was filled to capacity with excited students for their final game, anticipating an undefeated season. The cheer squad even prepared a “6-0” chant to rally the crowd. “We really appreciate that so many people come to the games and show their support,” said starting guard Myla Tran. While the crowd was enthusiastic, Parkland’s bench was even louder, cheering on their teammates. Kayla Yeboah, Johnelys De Leon, Tabitha Atulinda, Leyre Avendano Palacios, Srantie Houssou, Violet Pfeufer, and Elily Tiruneh encouraged their teammates after every big play and displayed the strong sense of sisterhood within the team. “We built that connection right away,” said Orlia Tabue. “We knew we had to play together, especially in a pressure game like this.”
Not only was their season record remarkable, but the way they achieved it was equally impressive. Throughout the season, Parkland outscored their opponents 233 to 75, with several victories by 20 or more points. Many players credit their coach for instilling key values during practice and team huddles. “This team is confident; we hustle, and with Coach’s guidance, we’ve become more aggressive. She always shares good vibes and teaches us to be confident and strong,” said Isabella Cabrera Vargas.
“It has been incredibly rewarding to coach a group of girls who are so determined to learn the game,” said Coach Jenna Sevilla, who has been the girls’ basketball coach at Parkland for nine years. “They have a genuine excitement for basketball. They love being at practice and are so eager to compete. They remind me of how much I love the sport too.”
“This year’s team had several returning players from last year. It has been wonderful to watch them develop as athletes and see each of their strengths flourish over time,” Coach Sevilla added. “I want to thank the Parkland community—staff, parents, cheerleaders, and the student section—for rallying behind us all season long.”
When asked about next year, lone seventh-grade starter Myla Tran remained optimistic. “We’re going 6-0 next year as well!”
Courtesy of Coach Jenna Sevilla
