SPEAKER_04: 0:06

Welcome to the Bubble Lounge. I'm Sean Jackson. Miss Martha is feeling under the weather, but she did not want to postpone this amazing interview that we have lined up for you today. We are talking with the Highland Park basketball team captains for both the men's and women's team. And trust me, both teams are bringing the heat this season. I sat down with them to talk about leadership, legacy, and what it takes to represent Highland Park on the court. From locker room lasts to championship goals, you hear how these athletes push each other, lift up their teammates, and keep that Scott's pride alive. Whether you're a hoops fan or just love a good story about teamwork and heart, you're going to love this one. Let's jump in. Up first, we have the Highland Park men's basketball team captains. Gentlemen, welcome to the show. Please go around and introduce yourself. Why don't we start with you, sir? All right. I'm Cannon Wyatt. I'm a point guard, number one.

SPEAKER_02: 0:57

I'm Will Saunders, number four. I'm a forward. Name's Anderson Hoctor, number 20.

SPEAKER_04: 1:02

Uh, play guard. So, gentlemen, thank you for being here. So, give us the status update on what's happening with basketball. What can we expect for this season?

SPEAKER_09: 1:11

We can expect a great season, district championship, you know, hopefully state championship.

SPEAKER_04: 1:15

Yeah, I like that. How about you?

SPEAKER_08: 1:17

Yeah, so we haven't started yet. I don't know when this is gonna come out, but we start our first game is November 14th um at home against Wiley.

SPEAKER_02: 1:26

Oh, okay. Uh, we're just getting started with our preseason. Uh, we're hoping to have a great season this year. Uh, state championship's the goal.

SPEAKER_04: 1:32

All right, so a lot of the starters coming back. Is it a whole new roster? Talk to us about the team.

SPEAKER_09: 1:37

I would I think we have seven seniors on the team. Uh returners, we're looking good. Everyone's you know, playing together, we're assisting on a lot of baskets. I think we're gonna be a good team this year.

SPEAKER_08: 1:50

Uh we have two freshmen, which we've that is rare that happens. So we do have a lot of young guys. We have two freshmen, one sophomore, two juniors, and then seven seniors.

SPEAKER_04: 2:00

Wow. That sounds like a strong lineup. All right. So if you're gonna pick a theme song, since it's the start of the season, what's the theme song for this season? Anderson Hawking. Got it?

SPEAKER_02: 2:10

Our theme song this year's gotta be Must've Been a Ghost. Um, it's definitely on aux a lot at our practices.

SPEAKER_04: 2:17

Yeah. Awesome, awesome. Okay. So let's talk a little bit about how you guys get everybody prepared. You are the leaders of the team, you're team captains. You know, uh it carries a lot of responsibility, right? So, how do you guys go ahead and get the team prepped up? How do you get them energized, you know, during preseason to get them ready for when the season starts?

SPEAKER_09: 2:37

I mean, I think it starts with the Awes game, as Henderson Hawkter would say. You know, we have good songs playing. I feel like that gets the team together and gets them motivated and hyped and ready to play.

SPEAKER_02: 2:47

Uh, we definitely have a young team this year. So, us being the captains and the seniors with and returners with their experience, we got to uh keep them in the loop and just get them ready for the season.

SPEAKER_08: 2:57

Yeah, one of the things I would say is that uh this team especially, we've been having really good energy earlier like in the season. Like in past teams, we've had to like come through a couple of weeks or months of practice to have more effort and practice. But this year, like we started out really strong. So I'm really excited about the season.

SPEAKER_04: 3:14

Excellent. And the two freshmen on there, that's amazing. That sounds like you're really building a kind of legacy right there if you can get them up to speed and kind of help guide them, you know, as they go out. That's fantastic. Yes, sir. So let's go ahead and talk about you know your experience with the team overall. Let's get into you know how you got involved in basketball and you know, kind of what you hell it's been so far.

SPEAKER_09: 3:34

Um, so I got involved in basketball in kindergarten. My dad put me in the YMCA. You know, I played through the YMCA in fourth grade. I quit every other sport because I just fell in love with the game. And so from then on, I just focused on basketball and it's worked out great.

SPEAKER_08: 3:48

Yeah, same thing. I got introduced to basketball in elementary school playing in the YMCA, but I was I actually played football too, all the way up until eighth grade. Until once I got into high school, ninth grade, I ended up dropping football just for basketball.

SPEAKER_02: 4:01

Uh for me, yeah, I started really early like them with YMCA and SVA basketball. Uh I played football as well, but I also played lacrosse freshman year. I was a big lacrosse player, but then I uh decided to put all my focus into basketball, which has been great.

SPEAKER_04: 4:17

Yeah, it's interesting because there's I think when you are focused like that, right? I mean, my son plays lacrosse and he gave up football because he just wanted to lean into lacrosse. And I think it's really where your passion lies. And, you know, that's a big part of being a great athlete, right? Is having that passion for the game. So fantastic.

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SPEAKER_04: 5:48

So is there any games that you are particularly looking forward to? I'm not talking about the championship. We know you want that. Is there any games coming up you were like, you know what, we're gonna get those guys? Somebody you lost to in the past that you thought you should have won, anything like that coming up?

SPEAKER_09: 6:03

Uh Lake Highlands for me. I mean, we lost on a buzzer beater last year, which is really tough. Um, so we're looking back to get we're looking forward to getting that one back this year at their place too. Something like that, they're last year we lost at home. Oh, yeah. Not uncharacteristic of us, but we play them at their place this year, so we should get a win.

SPEAKER_08: 6:22

Sure. Yeah, I'm excited for the three teams that we lost to in our district because I felt that we should have gone undefeated and there was two games that we kind of let go, and then one game we I mean they just beat us, but that would be the colony, Frisco Lone Star, and Frisco Reedy. We also lost to Frisco Reedy on like a pretty bad uh game winner where we had a little bit of miscommunication on defense. So those three are the main three I really want to get my get back on. I'm definitely excited to play Allen at home.

SPEAKER_02: 6:51

So I think it's our second game of the year. Uh they're the biggest school in Texas, which I think would be fun to beat them.

SPEAKER_08: 6:58

And obviously, Jesuit's always a big one. And we played Jesuit away this year.

SPEAKER_04: 7:03

So what is it with Jesuit? I swear, every team, did we just pick on them? Is that what it is? Have you had a rivalry with them forever?

SPEAKER_09: 7:10

I mean, I think we've had a rivalry with them forever. They're like really annoying and everything, just on and off court. So I feel like we got to get at them.

SPEAKER_08: 7:17

I hear you. If you ask me, it's not really a rivalry rivalry because we never lose to them. Uh but I'm looking forward to maintaining the screening streak.

SPEAKER_04: 7:24

That's yeah, that's especially true. So, you know, talk to us about you know how you're prepping for the season, what actually happens during the season, too, because I mean the demands, I think this is the one thing that we see a lot about captains, yeah. Is that you have academic demands.

SPEAKER_08: 7:39

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_04: 7:39

Yeah, you do plan on going to college, I assume, right? So you have academic demands, you certainly have the demands of just socializing, and then of course the team dynamic. And it's not just being a player on the team, you also have to lead the team. So, talk to us about how you manage kind of that chaos that comes from school and social and team and leadership capabilities. How do you how do you manage it?

SPEAKER_02: 8:02

Uh, sometimes it can be a lot, but you just gotta use your time wisely and uh prioritize the things that you need to prioritize.

SPEAKER_08: 8:09

Yeah, in the offseason, it's a lot easier because you have more free time to do whatever you choose to do or focus on. But once it gets into the season, it gets a lot harder because our practice like time gets longer. Like we'll practice during a school and then we'll practice for a couple hours outside of school. So then you have a little less time to focus on your academics and whatnot. But I mean, as long as you focus on what you need to focus on, then you'll be good.

SPEAKER_09: 8:32

Yeah, I feel like you you gotta talk to your teachers. You know, you'll miss a game or you'll miss a day because you're away at a game or something like that. You gotta talk to them and be able to prioritize that academic development as well as basketball and socializing and all that.

SPEAKER_04: 8:43

So how much time do you guys actually practice during the season?

SPEAKER_09: 8:47

I mean, I would say it kind of varies. Like last year, beginning of the year, we were going like two, three hours. Towards the end of the year, we kind of cut it back down once we got in our rhythm. We didn't need to practice as much. But for team practice, around you know, two to three hours at the start of the season, and then plus your individual training and all that and film, it it gets to a lot, but it's it's easy to manage if you know how to do it.

SPEAKER_04: 9:06

How long does it take you guys to get comfortable with each other? I mean, every I mean, you have people that you played with last year, obviously, but you got new people coming in. And you know, uh people joke in this neighborhood about team bonding, right? But I think there's a lot to it. I mean, if you look at the lacrosse team, for example, after spring break, because they traveled together, they they become a wholly different team. You look at the football team this year, you know, it was a little rough start to begin the year, but now they found their own rhythm. So talk a little bit about that. I mean, how do you guys sit there and foster that camaraderie? Do you guys spend time with each other outside of practice or just keeping in touch with each other? How do you guys build, you know, team cohesion?

SPEAKER_08: 9:44

Yeah, so I mean, with all the practice, you see each other every day and you spend a lot of time with each other. I mean, we do uh like player-led practices before school sometimes in yoga. So you see each other like every day in the locker room before school, sometimes during school, and then when practice starts, we'll go after school. And then last year or I mean every year we do um like team dinners. Oh, nice. So everyone will host a team dinner like once a week. Oh, that's awesome. Yeah, so we'll we'll all have dinner together, and then we also have a couple tournaments every year where we spend basically every day together for a weekend. Yeah, we spent a lot, yeah.

SPEAKER_04: 10:24

And you find it helps?

SPEAKER_08: 10:25

Yeah, I would say so. I mean, it's you you build more chemistry when you're away from the coaches. So we when you spend a lot of time away from the coaches, it helps a lot.

SPEAKER_04: 10:34

And you do yoga?

SPEAKER_08: 10:35

Yes, we do do yoga. We have yoga tomorrow morning, actually.

SPEAKER_04: 10:38

Really?

SPEAKER_09: 10:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04: 10:39

Now is that the secret to success? Is making sure you're stretched beyond belief.

SPEAKER_09: 10:43

I mean, I would say so. I mean, hitting the downward dog, all those all those positions, you know, I feel like I feel like it helps us out on the court. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_06: 10:52

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SPEAKER_04: 12:18

All right, well, let's get ready for the big game. How is your pregame ritual? Is it a, you know, music? Are you zoning out? What are you doing?

SPEAKER_09: 12:27

I mean, I would say I listen to the go and be a young boy before every game. And so he really just helps me get my mind focused and allows me to play at my best.

SPEAKER_08: 12:35

Yeah. A lot of people say eating a lot of food like makes your stomach hurt during a game, but for me, for some reason, it's the opposite. So normally I'll have dinner before a game. So like I guess I'm energized or whatever. Um, and then I'll listen to music and then we warm up together and all that before the game. And sometimes you'll get there early because we actually have to watch the JV game before our game. Right. So I guess we'll be sitting in the stands listening to music, getting locked in, and we get there early.

SPEAKER_02: 13:01

Yeah, I definitely make sure to stretch and do all the uh regular stuff, but I guess one unique thing I do is I'll eat a bunch of candy before the game. Uh just to get some energy, some shit. Okay, what candy? Sour Skittles is definitely my go-to.

SPEAKER_04: 13:14

Oh, my word. Okay. Got it, got it, got it. Okay, so that'll get you ready for the game. And then yeah, afterwards, do you guys go out afterwards? Uh, do you just go home and go to sleep? What do you do?

SPEAKER_09: 13:25

I mean, we go to In and Out Burger pretty much after every game.

SPEAKER_08: 13:27

Oh, really? Yeah. I mean, it really depends. Um Tuesdays. We have games on Tuesdays, so like we all have school the next day. Sometimes we'll have an early morning, so some people might not go out to eat because they have homework or something. Um, but whenever it's a Friday game, or if it's like a break and we'll have a game on like a Saturday afternoon, we'll definitely go get dinner or do something after that.

SPEAKER_04: 13:51

All right. Who's the funniest guy on the team and why?

SPEAKER_02: 13:56

I'll go with Graham Goodwin. Uh, he's definitely the most outgoing and he doesn't seem to care what other people think about him.

SPEAKER_09: 14:02

I would say Graham Goodwin or Zach Jackson. I mean, Zach says some of the stupidest things I've ever seen in my life or heard. Same with Graham. I mean, I would say they're two most outgoing people on the team.

SPEAKER_04: 14:11

All right. Best basketball movie.

SPEAKER_09: 14:14

I would say Hustle. Hustle?

SPEAKER_08: 14:16

Yeah, that's a good one. What about Hoosiers? Yeah, Hoosiers. I mean, there's this one movie I can't think of. I don't know. We watched it with Coach Gruber. You know what I'm talking about?

SPEAKER_10: 14:25

Oh, yeah. The Texas, uh, the Texas uh UTEP.

unknown: 14:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_10: 14:30

Southwestern. Oh my gosh, what is it called?

SPEAKER_08: 14:32

I forget what it's called, but it's this movie about this guy who gets a job at UTEP, I'm pretty sure. And he just basically goes against all the norms.

SPEAKER_04: 14:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08: 14:41

Um, and just finds like all these basketball players from New York that nobody has ever even heard about, who just like play outside all the time and he sees them and brings them all the way to UTEP and they go out and win a national championship.

SPEAKER_04: 14:54

Oh, that's awesome. That's awesome. Yeah, I definitely love those movies because especially when you're getting ready for the season or if it's, you know, you're down a little bit, you know, they get you pumped up because you realize so much of this game is mental, right? I mean, it really is. It's a mental game out there. Okay, what's the biggest coach quote that everyone jokes about? Is there something that a coach says that everyone kind of rolls their eyes, even if it's meaningful? I'll give you an example. Coach Allen loves to tell dad jokes. He makes everyone laugh whether they want to or not. So is there anything that the coaches say or do that really has an impact on you or you guys laugh about?

SPEAKER_02: 15:28

Uh, Coach Snowden, anytime you get any sort of injury, he'll say, uh, don't rub it, it'll spread to the to the other side.

SPEAKER_08: 15:36

And we definitely roll our eyes about that one. Yeah, he also almost every time like you leave practice or something like that, he'll be like, come back when you can stay longer. Ah. He says that all the time.

SPEAKER_04: 15:47

There you go. There you go. All right. Well, we're gonna wrap up here because we have the ladies joining us here in just a second, but I want you guys to talk about the legacy that you want to leave behind. I mean, you know, again, you are the leaders of your squad. You are definitely, you know, building on a huge uh tradition that was created for you before. So let's go around the room. What is your hope for the legacy that you leave behind?

SPEAKER_09: 16:10

I mean, I just hope that my legacy was a great leader who like inspired the younger players to work hard and allowed them to have like better success down the line in their careers.

SPEAKER_08: 16:19

That's great. Yeah, so for me, um, Highland Park has never won a state championship in basketball before. So if we were to win the first state championship, I mean, that would everybody would know about that. Nobody would forget about this team. Yep.

SPEAKER_02: 16:34

Uh I definitely want to be someone who uh, you know, a kid who's watching in the stands would uh maybe inspire them to try a little bit harder and find their passion for basketball.

SPEAKER_04: 16:44

That's absolutely great ideas, gentlemen. And I truly, truly hope this season brings all of that to fruition for you. So, guys, thank you again for being here. When is the first game? We want everyone there in the gymnasium. When is the first home game?

SPEAKER_08: 16:57

November 14th at 7 o'clock at Highland Park. And we also have a Meet the Scots on November 10th.

SPEAKER_04: 17:05

And we want everyone to show up because trust me, the energy from the crowd is translated into baskets on the court, right, gentlemen? Yes, sir. Uh thank you again for being here. Yes, sir. Go, Scots.

SPEAKER_06: 17:16

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SPEAKER_04: 18:15

And now I'm proud to introduce you to the Highland Park women's basketball team captains. Ladies, welcome to the show.

SPEAKER_03: 18:22

Hi, I'm Avery Sambrano.

SPEAKER_05: 18:24

I'm a post and I'm a senior. Um, my name is Palmer Jones, I'm a point guard and I'm a junior.

SPEAKER_07: 18:29

I'm Kate Young, I'm a post and I'm a senior. I'm Kate Danner, I'm a forward and I'm a senior.

SPEAKER_04: 18:34

Oh, my word. We have a junior on the squad. Congratulations. Oh, thank you. It's not often common to have a captain as a junior. That's fantastic. All right. Well, the first question off, I think it's the most important. Which person on your team could secretly have a future as a coach?

SPEAKER_01: 18:51

Well, I'd have to answer Avery Sambrano for this one because she is just the best with little kids. We run our basketball camp over the summer and our middle school training clinic in the fall. And Avery just has an energy about her that the kids gravitate to. However, if you need a coach that's going to get on your butt a little bit, I think that would be Miss Kate Danner because she knows how to keep you honest in drills and she'll get the best out of you for sure. Totally.

SPEAKER_04: 19:17

Well, that's awesome. That's awesome. Well, we have two potential coaches right here. We can tag team it together. Exactly. Good cop, bad cop, good. That's fun. So, how long have you ladies been playing basketball? I'm always curious when people start and you know what kind of drove their passion.

SPEAKER_05: 19:37

Well, my dad played college basketball. So, like the second I could walk, he was like forcing a basketball ball in my hand. I didn't have much of an option.

SPEAKER_03: 19:44

And my mom coached basketball like when she was pregnant with me. So I think like as soon as I could in like church league stuff, like I was playing on the team and she was coaching me. So it was fun.

SPEAKER_01: 19:54

Um, my dad also played basketball in college, and my mom played basketball in high school. And my parents just always encouraged me to play as many sports as I could for as long as I could. But um, after making the team with Kate Danner freshman year, I just knew basketball was gonna be it for me. I loved it.

SPEAKER_07: 20:07

Yeah, I started pretty late. Both my parents didn't play, but I was super tall growing up, so they just put me in basketball, and I ended up loving it around seventh grade. So ever since then I kind of just stuck with it.

SPEAKER_04: 20:18

And do you guys do any other sport or is this your sole sport? This is it.

SPEAKER_07: 20:22

This is we all just do basketball.

SPEAKER_04: 20:23

Oh, that's awesome. That's awesome. So your season, you're in preseason now. When is your first game?

SPEAKER_07: 20:28

Um, it's next Friday.

SPEAKER_04: 20:31

What's the date?

SPEAKER_07: 20:32

Um November 7th, first Frisco Emerson.

SPEAKER_04: 20:36

Oh, and that's at HP.

SPEAKER_07: 20:37

Uh no, it's gonna be at Cedar Hill. We're in like a showcase.

SPEAKER_04: 20:40

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_07: 20:41

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_04: 20:42

So are you guys nervous?

SPEAKER_07: 20:43

No, not at all. We've been incredibly excited. Yes.

SPEAKER_04: 20:46

So tell me about the team this year. What's the composition of it? Do you have a lot of starters returning? Is it a young team?

SPEAKER_01: 20:52

So we graduated three seniors last year. Two of them were guards. They kind of split the point guard position, and then we had one post. We have a 10-person varsity roster this year. So, us four captains, we have one freshman, one sophomore, and then eight um eight returner that leave. Yeah, eight eight returners. So it's it's pretty exciting. It's a strong team. We're very excited to see how we can build upon what we started together last year.

SPEAKER_04: 21:18

Is it common to have freshmen on the team?

SPEAKER_01: 21:21

Um, I mean the last time, was it us? No, so Kate Danner and I each made varsity our freshman year, and then Ellington Heist, who's currently a junior, also made varsity as a freshman. We did not have any freshmen make the varsity team last year, and then Addie Edwards is our freshman this year, and she's undersized, but gosh, is she might be so you know, we had the boys on earlier, but I oh, I want to take a slightly different tactic with you guys because I think a lot of this game is mental.

SPEAKER_04: 21:50

Am I right or wrong? I mean, you know, so talk to me about your mental prep for these games. I mean, you know, you're you're playing on the other teams out there that have a long, you know, tradition of basketball. So they've certainly probably got the talent. They may even have more players. So you may be coming into some games as an underdog, but that doesn't affect you. Why?

SPEAKER_07: 22:09

Um, I would say for us, we like solely are like based off of like skill and execution. Like we don't might not have like the most athletic players per se, but like we're always gonna beat other teams with our minds. So we're just like, I would say super connected. Like that's what we always fall back on is like our trust on each other, and kind of just like our culture is like that. Like everyone to the right or left of you is your sister, and we kind of just always go to that place of like we're here as one, we're together. Our slogan, we can talk about it.

SPEAKER_03: 22:36

Our slogan is um one for all this year, which we feel like really encapsulates our culture of our program. And so the one we we kind of to break it down to explain it, we like to break it down. So the one is we are one program, we are one team. We consider ourselves, I mean, we are a varsity team, but we consider ourselves captains of the program, not just the high school, but the middle schoolers as well. You'll see we do a lot with our middle schoolers from clinics to camps, just trying to really like create a culture that doesn't just stop at the high school. And then so that's our one. That's all of us together. We work together. We're not a one-woman show. We believe that a team is stronger than individuals. And then our four is we we did lose in round four last year. So it's kind of like a reminder of like where we want to go this season. But also we have four captains, we have four amazing coaches who believe in us so greatly. And we just feel like it's a very, it's and we have our four E's, which are our core values of our program, which are empowerment, execution, energy, and effort. So we just felt like the four putting that in our slogan really does like show who we are in a way. And then our all is just going for it all. We plan to make it as far as we can, make it to state, make it through districts, and yeah.

SPEAKER_04: 23:50

Okay, that's a future WNBA coach right there. I'm telling you, boy, that was articulated well for the press there.

SPEAKER_05: 23:56

Holy cow, that's very we rolled through it quietly. Oh, yeah, given that speech a few times.

SPEAKER_04: 24:02

Well, how let's talk about that because I mean you do play a leadership role, right? And you know, fostering, uh, as you put it, not only the current team, but you know, generations to come behind you. But you know, let's talk about your engagement with the current team. I mean, how do you guys handle it? I mean, do you have people that are struggling that you're having to lift up, or is it trying to keep the energy consistent? Because gosh knows it's hard running up and down that court all the time. Talk a little bit about how you keep your team motivated.

SPEAKER_01: 24:27

I mean, I think for us, the biggest thing, and this is not unique to our program. This is a Highland Park thing. It's that this community provides so many opportunities, but it also provides a lot of things that are difficult to balance and to manage. So Coach Muncie, our head coach, has this philosophy that he tries to instill in us as much as he can of just be a kid. Like, of course, basketball is a priority, but so is being a kid. So is the homework you have to do, so is the dance that's coming up, so is your family time. It's all these things that are fleeting. Um, and so it's important for us as captains to recognize that uh basketball, while it is such a big part of our lives, it's not the only part of our lives. And that's true of our teammates as well. So we really try to be um we try to be thoughtful about each other's time. We try to see in what ways people might need help. That comes with upperclassmen helping underclassmen study, that comes with finding time to make up a workout if you have something that you have to get to. Um but at the end of the day, it just comes down to being in tune with each other and really taking that personal care and investment in one one another's lives to just support each other in whatever way we can.

SPEAKER_06: 25:34

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SPEAKER_04: 26:12

So let's talk about last season. Um, you mentioned you you are into round four, right? Yes, yes, yes. And then obviously that's part of your, you know, we're we're we're gonna overcome that. Okay. So talk to us about kind of what you guys are doing to improve from last year. What is it that you guys are really focused on? Don't give away any secrets. We don't want the you know, we don't want anyone else to know about this. But you know, what has been some of the things that you guys have really been? Is it just more practices? Is it just a new combination of players? What are you guys really focusing on this year?

SPEAKER_07: 26:41

Um, I would say after last season, like going into this summer was like a huge like jump for us. Normally in the summer we kind of take it slow and like get people used to, but we kind of just started off and like went like dove in head first and like we're just trying to get better and starting off. Where like we left off kind of deal. And obviously it's gonna take a lot of steps to get there. But I would say going into this season, we're kind of just like not gonna pick up where we left off, but like we're going into it like we aren't the same team, and these are the things that we need to do to get back to where we were and even further. So I think we're just you know, coming in like ready, kind of like on fire, like we're all super excited to get started. We're going into practice every day, super focused, like knowing what the goal is. It's kind of just like a common goal, it's the standard of our program. You know, we're not going in thinking, oh, like we want to win district, we want to win the pre even the preseason, like it you might say like it's not as important, but to us it is like pre-season is what sets like the tone for district, and then district is what's gonna set the tone for playoffs. So we're kind of just going in like headfirst, like super excited, but also like wanting more than last year and just focusing on like the end goal for sure.

SPEAKER_04: 27:45

Yeah, there's no question, desire and passion, and then the practice off season definitely matters, you know.

SPEAKER_00: 27:51

For sure. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_04: 27:52

So let's talk a little bit. You mentioned a little bit earlier about supporting each other both on the court and off the court. How do you guys balance out, you know, your the demands of being, you know, not only student athletes, but HP, you know, the students, which has a huge amount of demands, and then of course the social life. I mean, you know, uh you this is your last year. Well, for three of you, one of the slides one of the how do you kind of balance that? Because it's, you know, it's got to be something that's on your mind. How do you manage all of it?

SPEAKER_01: 28:21

I think part of what makes our program so special is that we do feel empowered to pursue other things. Uh, Kate Danner was on the homecoming court, Palmer Jones Jr. is balancing that difficult course load, and she's a youth basketball coach. And then Avery Sambrano is just the life of every party and the person who can unite any friend. And so a lot of that, and we have multiple members of student council too, um, who are on the varsity basketball team. And so it's just our willingness to pursue these things. I think it's not anything that would uh detract from our focus or our effort, but it is something that can wear us down a little bit. But it's also what fills our cup. So it's really important to us to be able to pursue what we're interested in outside of basketball because it's what fuels us to have the energy that is necessary to get through basketball. And so part of that is taking um vested interest in each other's interest. So Ellington, she's the junior, she's a varsity lacrosse player. And so for us, it's a really big deal that we're supporting her as she's balancing two sports. Um, we have multiple girls that play on club teams, so supporting them is a big thing. And then just the underclassmen that this is still new to them. It's it's a big deal for us to get to celebrate the little accomplishments.

SPEAKER_04: 29:32

Okay, I'm exhausted. Okay, literally, listen to all the things you guys do. I mean, basically the boys are like, yeah, we we practice all the time, we eat, we study. Yeah, that was it. You're like, we've got student calendar, we've got homecoming court, we don't. I was like, oh my gosh. And you play and you play basketball also very well.

SPEAKER_07: 29:49

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_04: 29:50

Given the fact that you guys are such a dynamic team, how has being a part of the HP basketball program impacted you personally? What has it taught you about yourself? About life in general.

SPEAKER_05: 30:02

Especially last year, especially being like a younger player on varsity, it was so special to see like the type of like bonds that were made. Especially some of our last seniors. They really taught me so many things, whether it was about basketball or about life. And it's just so special to be able to bond with those older, wiser like peers. And it's just such a special thing.

SPEAKER_03: 30:25

Um, for me, I'd say like coming in, I went to Providence Christian school, so I wasn't a part of like the middle school kind of like culture. And um when I came in, I definitely was a little more shy, a little more timid, a little more reserved. And I feel like just being a part of this program has really shown me like what kind of people I want in my life, how I want to live. And I feel like I've just learned so much about leadership and friendship. And I feel like it's been something that's really allowed me to like flourish in high school and really have created some bonds that are gonna last for forever.

SPEAKER_07: 30:58

Um, yeah, for me, um, on and off the court, it's been huge. For on the court, I would just say, like, especially my sophomore year when Coach Muncie came in, like he just instilled this confidence in me. And ever since then, like I grew. And now I'm going on to playing college, and that was like a huge like growth for me. Like him coming in and just like always pushing me. Like, he's been like one of like the most consistent people since he's been at Home Park in my life, and he just like pushed me to like that next level, which has been great. And then off the court, just like the relationships that I've built, it's like things I'm never gonna forget, and just like people that are gonna be at my wedding. Like, I just love the girls so much. So, like future bridesmaids, maybe like it's just like something super special, and like you really just have to be a I mean, you can see it from the outside, but like being a part of it is just like truly like nothing else that like I've ever been a part of.

SPEAKER_04: 31:43

But sure, they saved the t-shirt something weird at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_07: 31:45

Yeah, but yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 31:50

I think the biggest thing that I've gotten out of this program is a greater understanding for what I'm capable of as a person. I think back to this time four years ago when it was me and Kate Danner as the only, you know, 14-year-olds on the varsity roster. And I think I have it saved in our text messages where we ask each other, how are we going to do four years of this? And now we look at it, and I don't think either of us ever thought we would be captains or three-year starters, and one of us going off to play in college, which we're so happy for for Kate for that. Um Toreros. Yeah, still getting the hang of that one. But go Toreros. Here, no, you can't there we go. Just the ability to continue to push through the early mornings and the late nights and both the physical and mental demands that the sport asks of us. Um, and that's solely because of the encouragement and empowerment and support that I have from the girls on my left and right and from the coaches that put in twice as much time as us. So I think going into this next stage of life in college for me in a few months, I'm just really armed with this mindset that I can do hard things and I can do them well because I've done them with this team and we've succeeded. Wow.

SPEAKER_10: 33:01

100%.

SPEAKER_04: 33:02

You guys are really inspiring. This is awesome. Okay. Well, inspire me some more. Give me a pregame ritual, okay? I want to know your pregame ritual to get you psyched up because just listening to you guys got me psyched up, but I want to know what gets you ready for a game.

SPEAKER_01: 33:17

Well, uh, a lot of it comes down to the moments in the locker room and in the weight room before where we're playing fun music, getting the energy up. But we also, after the starters are announced, we all meet um in the middle of the paint at the basket that we're going to be scoring on in the first half. We huddle together, we make sure we're touching as many girls as we can, and I lead the team in a little prayer because we believe that it's just one more way to unite our team. Um, and then we hear a couple final words from the captains. And I think those moments are when we feel really the closest as a program. I'm completely 10,000.

SPEAKER_07: 33:53

Yeah, we just hype each other up, you know, giving each other that extra push before the game.

SPEAKER_04: 33:57

All right, give me a theme song then. If you had a theme song running, come on, what would be a theme song?

SPEAKER_01: 34:02

We had a theme song. What was the one from last year? You know, I feel like our teams in the past have developed theme songs as the season has progressed. So we've had Unwritten by Natasha Bettingfield, that was one. Uh, we had Tweaker last year by LiAngelo Ball, I would say was our theme song with BX Whip It by Big X the Plug. So it's gonna be some medley of those this year, but I don't know if we've quite found it yet.

SPEAKER_04: 34:25

So the theme song is derived from the season, is what you're saying.

SPEAKER_03: 34:29

Yeah, it's definitely ever-changing well.

SPEAKER_04: 34:33

Let's then with talking about your legacy. I mean, you're a part of a very proud tradition here. Uh, certainly uh the uh women's NBA is gaining more popularity. I mean, it is just starting to see this tsunami of young girls that are coming in who are being inspired by some of the greats in the WNBA, and of course by you guys. What would you like your legacy to be? What do you want the to leave behind um for you seniors? I should say. The junior, she's gonna have to live with it next year, but what would you like to leave as a legacy?

SPEAKER_07: 35:02

I would just say, um, speaking for all of us, like we just want to leave it better than we found it. That's kind of like a theme this year that we're really just trying to even uh Palmer's a junior, but she's really helping us out with it as well. We just want to leave everything better than we found it, like as a group. Um, I think that would be like the most important thing for all of us is just like we want to look back and be like, we saw the program grow. It's like we're leaving it way better than we found it. And I feel like that's definitely like our number one priority is just for all of us as a group to leave it better than we found it for sure.

SPEAKER_03: 35:30

And I think another thing um with Coach Muncie coming in with our four E's and one of them being energy, especially for me, I think something that I really try to bring every single day is that energy. And I really do hope that when I leave, it's remembered that like your energy and practice can be so great. And I feel like that's what's something that makes us so special is that we're celebrating like the made shots. We say bang after a made three and during a game and during practice. And I just want, I think for my biggest thing is my legacy is remembering that like this is supposed to be fun. We're supposed to be like you should come out of it being like, well, basketball can be frustrating at times, like it should be something that like lifts each other up and makes us feel full.

SPEAKER_01: 36:07

So I also think that we all set a firm standard for ourselves this year between us four and then extending it to the 10 in on in our team and then the rest in the program that we want our female athletes at Highland Park and within this program specifically to feel valued because it is not a laborless sport. We are, you know, really pushing ourselves to the limit starting in June with captains workouts. And so um, we've already found ways to, as Kate Danner said, leave the program better than we found it. Starting last spring, when our season ended, we lost air conditioning in the locker room and we lost clean water. And that was a battle that we fought the duration of the summer and into the fall. But it means for the girls coming up in the years to follow, they will have facilities that support them through what they need. And even the program growth that we've seen has been exponential. And last year, we didn't mention this, but when we were eliminated in round four, that was the furthest in program history our team has ever advanced. And we lost in round four in front of a student section full of our supporters, friends, and peers. So this is the legacy that we want to leave for Highland Park girls basketball is that they are valued, they are important, and their efforts are not for nothing.

SPEAKER_05: 37:22

And this is something that I think these three seniors do so, so well. I know that I still have a year left with them, but they are just the most like influential bunch I think I've ever met. They all like reach out and connect with people in different ways. And I think it truly makes these three so incredibly special. They do just such an amazing job of branching out and getting to know everyone on the team, which is something I think not every sport has the ability to do, but it's really amazing just like see the connections that they've made. And they are truly, they have left such a legacy already. I know they still have a year left and much legacy will be left, but they're just doing such an amazing job. And every single person in the program looks up to them every day.

SPEAKER_04: 37:59

Well, ladies, you are absolutely inspiring. I love the energy, I love the passion, I love everything that you shared, and I cannot wait to see you guys on the court. I think everybody needs to come there because it is important, right? That your peers come in to come and have you on. So again, thank you so much for being on the show, and I'm excited for your season.

SPEAKER_05: 38:20

Go scott!

SPEAKER_04: 38:22

That's been another episode of the Bubble Lounge. Martha Jackson will return next week. But for now, it is signed off by me, Sean Jackson. Have a great week, everybody.