Winter athletes reflect on the past month and look ahead to CIF.
Boys Basketball
Basketball is heading down the final stretch as the boys sport a record of 10-17 overall, going 5-3 in league games. The team utilized a winning streak to secure the second spot in league and guarantee a playoff spot.
“We began to play together on offense and defense,” senior Talon Han said. “We trusted each other more as the season went on.”
The boys were sparked by the return of junior Jadon Holmes, who brought a set of fresh legs to the team. They aren’t planning to let up as they prepare for the postseason.
“We plan on watching lots of films,” Han said. “We’ll have good practices that help us prepare for anyone we end up facing.”
Come support the boys at their to-be-determined playoff game posted on the CIF website on Feb. 8.
Girls Basketball
The girls team had yet another successful season, going 16-3 overall with an undefeated league record of 8-0. However, their strong record masks the challenges that the team endured throughout the season.
“The biggest challenge for us is having only six players because our teammate Ella Broms tore her ACL,” junior Delaney White said. “She did a lot for us on and off the court and always played hard.”
Despite losing Broms for the season, the team rebounded well and moved a freshman, Natasha Bomareddy, up from JV. They ended the season on a nine-game winning streak.
“I feel that we have improved a lot playing as a team,” Bomareddy said. “We now look for opportunities not only for ourselves but for our teammates.”
OPHS students, parents and faculty can come to support the girls at their next game on Feb. 13.
Boys Soccer
The boys soccer team enjoyed another solid season, going 7-4-2 overall and 4-2-2 in league games. While they have had an up-and-down season, there have been some great moments.
“Scoring a hattrick against Royal is my favorite moment of the season,” junior Rastin Houshmand Azad said. “It is always great to have those games where you feel absolutely unstoppable.”
These strong performances were the catalysts behind many big wins. The team also did a great job of closing out big games.
“Winning the Kanan Cup was a goal that we accomplished,” Houshmand Azad said. “We always talk about winning those big rivalry games so it was great to see.”
Come support the boys as they start their CIF journey for this season, posted on Feb. 8 on the CIF website.
Girls Soccer
The girls soccer team endured a tough season, going 2-11-1 overall with a 1-6-1 record in league.
“We lost a lot of seniors last season,” junior Nina Gerty said. “Rebuilding the team was difficult especially with such a young roster.”
However, the team managed to get some good out of the season. They were able to work together more as the season went on.
“The season definitely provided for some tough moments,” Gerty said. “Our team’s chemistry improved a lot throughout the season.”
The girls team had a tough season, but the sparks provided for some hope going into the next year.
Girls Water Polo
The inaugural season of girls water polo didn’t come without hiccups, but the team learned a lot throughout the way. Although they ended the season 0-7, they improved throughout the season.
“Out of the seven water polo players, only two girls have experience,” freshman Yasmeen Riaz said. “The rest of the girls have never played the sport, so throughout the season we have vastly improved.”
The team has improved on all parts of the game and they have worked towards better passing and swimming. However, the lack of players on the team posed a challenge.
“One of our biggest struggles as a team was that we had barely any players,” Riaz said. “For most games, we had to play the entire time while the other teams had subs.”
While the season is over, the future looks bright. With a combination of coaching and new talent, the girls water polo team can be a contender next season.
