Three … two … one and the buzzer goes off, ending another season for the men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Both teams excelled this year, working hard and never giving up.
The men’s basketball team had a very successful season going 18–9 overall and 10–6 in conference, even amounting a six game conference-winning streak at one point in the season.
The team really showed their hunger for success particularly against Roanoke with a score of 103–78, making it one of their biggest wins of the season and the first time the team has broke the 100-point plateau since 2009. It is no surprise this team was ready to fight for their wins.
Backtracking to the beginning of the season, the team was ready to focus on the goals that lay ahead.
“Our number one goal entering the season was to win an (Old Dominion Athletic Conference) championship (and) to be playing our best basketball in February,” said junior and Second Team All-ODAC forward Jonny Rice in an email interview. “I think we did that, showing improvements throughout the year.”
The Quakers stepped up having six first-years and four sophomores playing throughout the entire season. First-year guard Jarrod Rogers contributed in just about every game the Quakers played as did sophomore guard Trever Hyatt, who maintained a free throw shooting percentage of 83 percent.
Senior Matt McCarthy led the team with 16.6 points per game, 48 steals and 78 assists. These statistics earned him ODAC player of the year.
“(It was a) great accomplishment being named ODAC player of the year and (having the team) make it to the semifinals,” said McCarthy in an email interview.
It truly was an achievement to have so many wins and to make it as far as they did, making it one of their most successful seasons in over five years.
Although the team did not achieve their main goal of winning the ODAC Tournament, their hard work and effort was on display throughout the entire basketball season.
The women also had a successful season going 17–10 overall and 10–6 in conference.
Throughout the season, the team knew what they needed to work on to be victorious.
“Their focus on game plans improved (but) with having three new people in the starting line up it took some time for them to get comfortable,” said head coach Stephanie Flamini in an email interview. “As they started playing together, things finally started to click.”
As in previous years, there were a lot of talented young players.
Senior guard Brittany Drew ended the season with 29 steals had 60 assists, while averaging 9.4 points per game, earning her a Second-Team All-ODAC recognition. Senior forward Anais Weatherly also earned Second Team All-ODAC honors, averaging close to a double-double with 14.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
First-year guard Lauren Ramsey and sophomore forward Heaven Walters were both big contributors as young players as the team prepares to build for next season.
Despite having many strong players and an overall winning record, the team did have their ups and downs throughout the season.
“Our weaknesses were, at times, focus and being tough mentally when other teams rattled us,” said Flamini.
In order to make a run in the tournament they needed to work around this weakness. They managed to do this as the team kept up their wins all the way to the ODAC tournament.
The girls crushed Hollins in the first round of the ODAC Tournament, 74–28. However their season ended in the quarterfinals where they ended up losing to Wesleyan in overtime by a single point.
The season may now be over, but this team is looking forward to next season.
“I’m really looking forward to next season: playing with the returners and (having) the new kids coming in,” said sophomore forward Heaven Walters in an email interview. “I think we have a lot of potential to win an ODAC championship in the future.”
By improving on their skills both teams have the potential to make a run for the ODAC Championship next season.
