The girls varsity basketball team saw its season come to an end Monday night with a 67-20 bi-district playoff loss against District 23-5A champion Georgetown.
Despite the outcome, the Knights showed resilience, energy and unwavering determination.
Senior guard Emy Chen acknowledged the difficulties the team faced, particularly in transition and ball security.
“The game went a lot better than it could have gone—it could’ve been worse, but I think overall, we needed to work on not having so many turnovers and having a better transition from offense to defense,” Chen said. “They had some pretty tall posts, and it was difficult to manage without having [senior center] Sonya [Petersen] in the game. In general, we were outsized.”
Senior forward Miranda DiGiovanni echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the team’s struggles against Georgetown’s defensive pressure.
“I think we felt pretty rushed and didn’t handle their press well,” she said. “They had some tall players, and we were definitely undersized, which made it difficult for us.”
Petersen was unable to play due to injury, but she entered the game for a curtain call because it was her last McCallum game as it was for Chen and DiGiovanni.
It was Georgetown’s 30th win of the season. The Eagles now advance for a second-round game today against District 21-5A champion Spring Woods, a 64-55 winner over Victoria East on Monday. Both the Eagles and Tigers went undefeated in their respective districts.
While the Eagles presented a difficult out for the Knights, both seniors highlighted the team’s effort and resilience.
“I think we did a good job of keeping our energy up throughout the game,” Chen said. “We didn’t stop playing or get too down on ourselves. We played hard the whole game.”
DiGiovanni agreed, adding that despite the adversity, the team remained engaged.
“We did well in trying to communicate and not take ourselves out of the game,” she said. “We didn’t really give up toward the end—we still tried to fight.”
For Chen and DiGiovanni, this season was more than just wins and losses. It was about growth, leadership, and the bonds formed within the program.
“This season, I learned a lot about pushing through tough moments,” Chen reflected. “There were definitely times in games where it was really hard, but I learned that it always gets better, and every moment is an opportunity for growth.”
DiGiovanni also expressed gratitude for the experience, crediting the program for shaping her as both a player and a person.
“This program has given me so many friendships and a great community I can always count on,” she said. “It’s taught me how to be a leader and how to use my voice more to hold people accountable.”
Petersen likewise took time this week to reflect on what McCallum basketball has meant to her.
“I have so many amazing memories from basketball and have learned so many lessons and will miss it so much,” Petersen said. “My favorite part has been the community and all the amazing teammates and coaches I’ve met through the program. I look forward to coming back and watching the team play next year. I know that they will do amazing things.”
Although the season ended sooner than the players hoped it would, the Knights walked away from the season proud of their effort and the lessons learned along the way.
