Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. is the girls basketball team’s District semi-final game against Eureka at Francis Howell High School. Last year the Lancers lost in the District Championship game to Washington, but they were ranked number 10 among large schools at the conclusion of the 2016-2017 season.

Senior Maddy Devereux has been playing on the varsity squad since she was a freshman, and she has high hopes for the team as they finish off the season.

“For Districts this year, I have high expectations for the team. Seeing that our first game is against Eureka, if we handle pressure well, I think we will be on the right side of the scoreboard,” Devereux said.

Junior guard Sydnie Wolf said the team has to bring high intensity from the start of the game.

“In order to secure Districts, we need to keep our foot on the gas and come out early. Where we struggle sometimes is not coming out strong in the first five minutes or being satisfied with a lead,” Wolf said.

The team has many players capable of a scoring from wide range of shots which has posed a challenge to their competitors so far this season.

The team enjoys having a good time with each other and their advantage in Districts is their desire to win for each other, Devereux said.

The team has created a close bond through many team dinners before big games and staying after their games to cheer on the boys team who plays after them.

“Our team is really close on and off the court, and I find that it helps tremendously in our performance in knowing that we are each other’s biggest supporters,” Wolf said.

At the conclusion of last year’s season Head Coach Dave Witter said, regarding the 2017-2018 season, “We’re on the rise.”

If the girls win on Feb. 26, they will play in the District Championship game on March 2 at 5 p.m. against either Francis Howell or Marquette.