Arabians named Area Champs

Injuries and the loss of loved ones plagued the Arabian basketball team this season. Despite the odds being set against them, the girls still managed to compete and persevere. Halfway through the first round of district the Arabians gained a guardian angel.

“After losing Ms. Sessions in the middle of the season like that, the team immediately developed the mindset that we weren’t backing down,” junior Kara Stacy said. “We knew she would want us to continue fighting and smiling, so that’s exactly what we did.”

Playing Hondo is always a fun and exciting game, but for the Arabians this year it held a little more meaning.

“Ms. Sessions was holding out for the Hondo win,” junior Kailee Ramirez said. “Just knowing that she would be watching over us that night made the game more special and motivated us to do anything and everything to get that win, not only for her but for Coach J as well.”

As the girls continued through the season, many more obstacles were crossed. Injuries proved to be very difficult to deal with, especially with the pain everyone was feeling.

“We were kind of a make shift family,” head coach Jim Sessions said. “We really came together and supported one another this season.”

The girls were back in full force for the beginning of their playoffs and found balance again.

“After everything we went through, the girls were able to see that it wasn’t just a game anymore,” Coach Sessions said. “They had a chance to truly find joy in what they were doing and accomplishing together.”

The Arabians finished off the season as Area Champions after a tough loss to Boerne in the third round. Though they didn’t finish where they would have hoped, their heads are still held high.

District Awards

First Team All District:

Alyssa Schmidt and Baylee Quisenberry

Second Team All District:

Kara Stacy

Honorable Mention:

Elyse Espinoza, Julia Harrell,

Kailee Ramirez, and Jenna Sadler