The Lady Hornets Varsity Basketball program is going through what many would call a “rough patch.” They have suffered six straight losses since the start of the season. But it seems that after winter break, something has changed within them. During the annual holiday tournament for Maryland Girls Basketball, the Hornets beat Frederick Douglass. While this isn’t completely shocking, it may have been just what the girls needed to turn the season around. Tuesday, Jan. 7, the girls beat Seneca Valley in a heated match. This was the first home win and hopefully a turning point for the team.
The Varsity girls Hornets are under a new coaching staff this year. Head Coach Daryl Keys has been on the coaching scene for a decade and also played while he was in high school. His basketball knowledge is immense, showing it through the intricate plays he plans and directs. Coach Keys acknowledges the fact that he has a very young team, “It requires patience. I try to remain composed, knowing that there will be many teachable moments.” This team’s starting lineup is composed of two freshmen (Olivia Keys and Delaney Rey), one sophomore (Katelyn Doyle), one junior (Maddie Frimpong), and their star senior (Caryss Canda). Having a young team can be hard on a coach, knowing that the lack of experience may catch up to them. Coach Keys tries to support his athletes in every way possible. “I try to keep my composure, but sometimes it’s hard in the spur of the moment. I am a very competitive person, but I know aggression won’t help,” Coach Keys claims. “I want these girls to know that we are all in this together.”
While their record might not show it, these girls are a resilient bunch. Coach Keys says that when his athletes face failure, they understand the attitude they need to bounce back. “Since they are young, they are able to hang onto every play. I believe that in every game, one good quarter turns into two,” Coach Keys explains. The best example of his philosophy is shown in their game against Sherwood, which they ultimately lost 27-38. The girls were down 0-13 after the first quarter, but battled their way back from the start of the second quarter. They scored 20 points in two quarters, cutting their deficit to only four points by the last quarter. Although they ended up losing, they showed strong determination and didn’t stop until the sound of the last buzzer.
When it seemed like things were going smoothly for this team, they were struck with tragedy. A few days before their first official game, Ariana Hossain (senior) fell to the ground in the middle of warm ups, clutching her knee. Hossain had just made her full return and recovery from ACL reconstruction the previous season. She was over a year post surgery, but when the team saw her fall, their hearts sank. After many doctors’ appointments and careful deliberation, it was concluded that Hossain had fully torn her ACL again and would need surgery once more. This marked the end of her high-school career. “Even from the first day I received this position, I knew Ariana was special,” Coach Keys attested. “She showed up to every summer workout, was always engaged in the inner workings of the game, and I knew she wanted it bad.” Coach Keys talks about how this injury doesn’t just affect the team, but all of them personally. “She was one of the people who supported me from day one, she trusted me. She is a good person, and this program needs her around for our success,” Keys concluded. Without Hossain in the lineup, the game plans have changed for Coach Keys. He claimed a good way to explain his situation was by a quote from Mike Tyson, “Everyone has a game plan until they get punched in the mouth.”
While the Hornets have faced many “punches to the mouth” (injuries, losses, disagreements), they have battled back every time. They have learned from every fault and mistake so they can come back stronger in the next game. The Damascus Hornets will play Watkins Mill at 7:30 on Friday, Jan. 9, at Watkins Mill High School. Make sure to come out and support the ever-so-resilient Lady Hornets!
