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Welcome listeners to Inside the Dragons
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Layer, the podcast where we go beyond
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the box scores and into the heart of
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Dragon athletics.
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I'm your host, Ryan Record. If you're
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new here, inside the Dragons Layer is
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where we seek to inform, entertain, and
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celebrate everything happening across
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HCC athletics.
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From player and coach perspectives to
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the outstanding culture that fuels our
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teams,
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although spring sports is in full swing,
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today we're taking a moment to reflect
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on the journey of this past basketball
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season. Through tough stretches and
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moments of triumph, our dragons stayed
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headstrong through numerous challenges
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and worked their tails off. In today's
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episode, we'll hear from some of the
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voices who lived it firsthand.
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I'm delighted to have a couple student
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athletes from our women's basketball
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team join the pod. But first, let's roll
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out the sports update. As always, to
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help us break it all down, we're joined
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by our sports information director and
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unofficial stat sheet whisperer for
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Dragon Athletics, Isaac Donsky.
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Well, thanks, Ryan, and it's good to be
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back once again. Uh, spring break was a
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lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to
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uh giving you guys the rundown of
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everything that happened with HCC
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athletics. Spring sports are in full
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session here at HCC. We've got a lot to
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cover, but first, let's talk about the
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end of the winter sports season. And
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unfortunately for the Dragons, it did
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not go according to plan. Men's
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basketball managed to make the playoffs
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as the number two seed after a pretty
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rough loss to CCBC Caitensville in the
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final week of the regular season. The
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Dragons would host the seventh seated
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Montgomery College Raptors. And in one
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of the best games we have ever seen at
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the Kart Foundation complex, the Dragons
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and the Raptors would battle to an
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overtime draw where unfortunately with
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seconds left, Montgomery hit a
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game-winning dunk. A brutal loss for the
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Dragons, one that unfortunately ends the
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chances of the three repeat, but it was
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still a hard-fought game. Sophomore
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Sincere Barfield went out on top with 35
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points in his final collegiate game. And
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the Dragons are now looking forward to
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rebuilding and getting set to try and
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keep their dynasty alive next year. A
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big congratulations, by the way, to our
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rivals, the Prince George's Community
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College Owls, for winning the region 20
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championship. They were a D3 team not
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too long ago, and now they've
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successfully managed to take home their
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first division 2 championship. So, good
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for them. And want to let it be known
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that the Dragons did beat them in the
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regular season. So, had we gotten past
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the first round, we had a chance. Uh,
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women's basketball unfortunately also
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had their season into the first round.
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The Dragons finished the season as the
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number six seed and traveled to
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Pittsburgh to face off against the
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Community College of Beaver County, the
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three- seed. One of the big surprises in
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region 20 this year. This game was a
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close game in the second half, but in
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the first half, it was a bit of a
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blowout. Beaver County had excellent
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three-point shooting, and they took a
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huge lead early over the Dragons. Howard
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fought back though in the second half,
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aided by 18 points from Savannah Price.
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But unfortunately, it wasn't enough and
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the Dragons get bounced in the first
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round for the second straight year. This
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also marks the first time the Dragons
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have had a losing record since head
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coach Aaron Barnes took over as they
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finished with a 15-6 record. This game
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would also prove to be the final game
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for head coach Aaron Barnes, who
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announced just a few weeks later that
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she will be stepping down from the
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program. Coach Barnes will leave with
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the all-time record for wins in women's
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basketball and helped guide the Dragons
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through a particularly difficult
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transitional time in which they uh had
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to play without a home gym, had to play
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through co and during this time they
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never missed the playoffs. The two years
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in which the Dragons were playing on the
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road, they had their best records in
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program history. Coach Barnes will be
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missed here at HCC. She did so much for
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the program and for the athletic
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department working as the student
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success coordinator and we can never
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thank her enough for everything that she
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did to the program. So, Coach Aaron,
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thank you so much for everything you
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have done and we know it didn't end the
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way we had hoped, but we wish you the
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best in the next chapter of your life.
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Let's move on to spring sports, which
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have been the big focus for the last
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month because there has been a lot going
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on. I want to start things off with
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track and field, who I feel like doesn't
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get the respect they deserve. A lot of
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the greatest athletes in HCC history
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have come out of track and field and so
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far this season, it's been a fun one so
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far. The Dragons have a packed schedule
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of meets for the spring and they kicked
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off their season on March 7th heading to
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the Lloyd Sigler spring meet at
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Salsbury, Maryland, where they broke
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some records. The school record for the
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4x100 was smashed by the Dragons. And
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that wasn't the only record they set.
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More records were set at the next match
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in Elon, North Carolina, the Phoenix
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Invitational. And then at the Allen
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Connie Shamrock Invitational, one of the
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biggest meets in all of track and field
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where both fouryear and two-year schools
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were in attendance, the Dragons
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continued to impress. And the big
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impressor was Air Moad. The freshman
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broke the 21-year-old record for the
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men's 100 meter dash for the Dragons,
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setting a time of 10.39
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seconds in his qualifying race. That
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breaks the record that was previously
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held by Dragon's head coach Phil D.
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Roier set in 2005 of a 10.47. Moad was
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able to finish fifth overall amongst all
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100 meter dash runners in that meet for
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the Dragons and has qualified himself
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for the National Junior College Athletic
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Association's track and field nationals
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at HOBS New Mexico in June. So we're
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very much looking forward to seeing what
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he could do the rest of the season. Most
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recently, the Dragons headed to George
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Mason University for the Dalton Ebanks
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Invitational, where the big highlight
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there was Chancellor D. Roier, son of
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head coach Phil Drossier, finishing
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fifth in the triple jump. It's been a
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fun year so far. A lot of growth from
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this track and field team. A lot of
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records have been broken, and we're
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looking forward to see what more records
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can be broken in the coming months.
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HCC's flag football team began their
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second season of competition this year,
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and this is the first year that they're
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actually playing in a legit conference.
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The Dragons play in the National College
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Flag Football League alongside many
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four-year and two-year schools and
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continue their quest to become the first
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major 2-year program fielding a flag
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football program on the East Coast in
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JO. And so far this season, it has been
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a season of development. The Dragons
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brought in a lot of new players and had
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some struggles. They lost their first
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game of the season against Galedet
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University and then hosted the Maryland
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Invitational for the NCFL in which they
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lost all four of their games, but each
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game they got better and better. They
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did well against Keen University and Cal
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University of Pennsylvania. A lopsided
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loss against Ruters on the second day
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kind of dampened some spirits, but in
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the fourth and final game of the weekend
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against Sunni Courtland, the Dragons
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almost pulled out the upset. London
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Galbrath, fresh off of an excellent
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season at women's basketball, scored the
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first touchdown of the year on an end
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round 60-yard touchdown run. The Dragons
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almost scored another touchdown, but it
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was called back after an illegal block
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was called, but the Dragons kept it
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close and ended up only losing 13 to7 to
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Sunni Courtland. The team looks a lot
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better than they did last year. They're
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continuing their development, and head
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coach Kia Smith continues to work to
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bring in new recruits to make this team
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as good as they can be. Softball this
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season got off to a bit of a rocky
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start. I think the best way to sum up
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this season for softball up to this
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point has been well listen we've got our
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games in. Uh due to all the bad winter
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weather that we had, the Dragons had
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difficulty starting their season to
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begin with. Their first slate of games
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were supposed to take place at Richard
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Bland College, but all four got
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cancelled due to bad field conditions.
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And then when they headed down to
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Raleigh, North Carolina for the Triangle
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Classic JO tournament, their first two
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games got washed out due to rain.
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Thankfully, they finally started to play
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and so far this season, it's been very,
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very good for the softball team. They
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look just as good as they did last year.
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There's obviously things to work on, but
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the team is performing quite well.
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They've got a solid returning cast of
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sophomores, including starting pitchers
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Sophia Steel and Marissa Webb. And
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they've got some excellent freshmen,
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including the team's leading batter this
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season, Gianna Paluso, aka G Money, hit
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for the cycle and leads the team in home
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runs already this season. Howard's usual
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home at Kowanas Wallace Park was damaged
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by the winter weather. So the Dragons
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had to play their first two home series
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at Catholic University of America in
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Washington DC and they actually did
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pretty well there. They went 3-1 in
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their four games at Catholic. Since
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returning to Kuanas Wallace Park, the
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Dragons have been almost undefeable,
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only dropping one game at Kuanas Wallace
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so far this season. And that one game
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was against Corning Community College,
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the number five ranked D3 team in the
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country. And the Dragons almost came
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back and won that. Howard was trailing
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14 to5 entering the bottom of the
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seventh. They lost 14 to13. They almost
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won that game. Absolutely absurd. The
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Dragons of course are aiming to try and
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take down the big dogs in region 20, Pot
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State, Southern Maryland, Caitensville,
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and so far they currently look like they
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might have a very good chance of doing
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that. They just wrapped up their spring
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break road trip up in New Jersey and New
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York where they went a combined 3-1. And
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one of those games, I have to highlight
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this. Sophomore Taylor Pence, who's back
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for her third season after missing last
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year with a torn ACL, hit an inside the
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park home run against Monroe Bronx. That
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00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:22,399
was probably the highlight of the season
272
00:09:20,399 --> 00:09:24,320
so far. They are looking forward to
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closing out the season by knocking off
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00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:27,920
some of their biggest rivals, including
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arch rival CCBC Caitensville. Those
276
00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,720
games are always a lot of fun, and
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they're looking forward to trying to
278
00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,920
make the Region 20 tournament, which at
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the moment it looks like they will make
280
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it thanks to their solid start to the
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season. Finally, our last spring sport
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I'm most excited to talk about, and that
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is lacrosse. Lacrosse has always been
284
00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:47,279
one of the more impactful sports here at
285
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HCC in terms of number of players sent
286
00:09:47,279 --> 00:09:50,720
to four-year schools and in terms of
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00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,800
national significance. Head coach Eric
288
00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:54,640
Faust, who just got his 100th victory as
289
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Dragons head coach this year, has always
290
00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:58,640
put together a strong team. And this
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00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:00,800
year's team might be the one to finally
292
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achieve the Dragons long dream of
293
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winning a national championship because,
294
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oh, they are good. This season has been
295
00:10:05,279 --> 00:10:09,120
an incredible one for the Dragons.
296
00:10:07,279 --> 00:10:10,959
Howard currently features three of the
297
00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,560
top five goal scorers in the country.
298
00:10:10,959 --> 00:10:13,839
They feature one of the best goalies in
299
00:10:12,560 --> 00:10:15,519
the country, two of the best defenders
300
00:10:13,839 --> 00:10:18,079
in the country based on number of ground
301
00:10:15,519 --> 00:10:20,240
balls caused turnovers and they reached
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the number one ranking in the country
303
00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:25,120
earlier this season after picking up
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huge wins against ranked opponents in
305
00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:30,000
Anandaga Community College, Nassau
306
00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:32,000
Community College, and a double overtime
307
00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,600
victory over the fifth ranked team in
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00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,120
the country, the College of DuPage.
309
00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,880
Howard's only two losses came against
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00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:38,079
Harford Community College, the number
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00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,839
one team in the country and the
312
00:10:38,079 --> 00:10:41,440
defending national champions. But in
313
00:10:39,839 --> 00:10:43,360
their first game against Harford that
314
00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:45,760
went to double overtime, Dragons took
315
00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:49,040
the Fighting Owls to the limit. It took
316
00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:50,800
double overtime in near darkness for
317
00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,720
Harford to score the game-winning goal.
318
00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:54,480
Now, the Dragons did lose to Harford in
319
00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,920
their first game as number one team in
320
00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,920
the country. That one we're trying to
321
00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:59,760
bounce back from, but what a year it has
322
00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:01,120
been for the Dragons. They have a lot of
323
00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,720
players who are being sent over to
324
00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:04,959
four-year schools who have committed.
325
00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:06,800
It's looking like this team could make a
326
00:11:04,959 --> 00:11:08,560
deep run in the region 20 tournament and
327
00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:10,800
the national tournament. They're pretty
328
00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:12,640
much locked to make both. It's going to
329
00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:14,399
be a fun fun year and we know that this
330
00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:15,680
team can play hard and we know that this
331
00:11:14,399 --> 00:11:17,600
team could potentially challenge for a
332
00:11:15,680 --> 00:11:20,000
national championship and I think that
333
00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:22,800
they could go on a deep tournament run.
334
00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:25,120
I think they are probably the best team
335
00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:26,160
in all of JO lacrosse. I think the only
336
00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:28,000
team that's a little better than them
337
00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,519
right now is Harford, but they know what
338
00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,959
their weaknesses are. They know what
339
00:11:29,519 --> 00:11:32,640
they need to do to beat them. And I
340
00:11:30,959 --> 00:11:34,240
think that they will see Harford again
341
00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:36,160
come the Region 20 tournament and
342
00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:38,320
perhaps the national tournament as well.
343
00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:39,519
Anyway, that'll do it for the recap of
344
00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:40,880
all of our sports. I know this was a
345
00:11:39,519 --> 00:11:42,560
longer one than usual. That's because
346
00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:43,760
there's been a lot that's been going on.
347
00:11:42,560 --> 00:11:45,200
Next time we'll talk about the
348
00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:47,120
conclusion of the spring sports season
349
00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:49,120
and we'll uh see how all of our teams
350
00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,880
did in the postseason. Looking forward
351
00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:52,079
to what's going to happen there. I'm
352
00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,279
going to turn it back to you Ryan. This
353
00:11:52,079 --> 00:11:55,200
is the big man on the mic, Isaac
354
00:11:53,279 --> 00:11:56,640
Donssky, signing off. Thanks for
355
00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:59,198
listening to me. Yeah, for the last 10
356
00:11:56,640 --> 00:12:00,640
minutes, folks.
357
00:11:59,198 --> 00:12:02,800
[music]
358
00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:04,880
Appreciate the in-depth update as
359
00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:07,519
always, Isaac.
360
00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:10,240
Behind every team at HCC is a group of
361
00:12:07,519 --> 00:12:13,440
athletes who put in the work day in and
362
00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:17,360
day out in practice, in the locker room,
363
00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:20,160
and especially on game day. In our next
364
00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:22,560
segment, the heart of a dragon, we're
365
00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:24,560
highlighting two exceptional student
366
00:12:22,560 --> 00:12:27,279
athletes from the women's basketball
367
00:12:24,560 --> 00:12:29,760
team as they reflect on their season,
368
00:12:27,279 --> 00:12:33,120
the challenges they overcame, and their
369
00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:35,600
growth both on and off the court. Today,
370
00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:38,639
I have the pleasure of being joined by
371
00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:40,240
Savannah Price and Mackenzie Walters.
372
00:12:38,639 --> 00:12:41,920
And it's a pleasure to have you both
373
00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:44,240
here. Uh, if you could share your
374
00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:46,959
position and what year you're in
375
00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:50,639
currently. My position is shooting
376
00:12:46,959 --> 00:12:52,959
guard. My year I'm a freshman. [gasps]
377
00:12:50,639 --> 00:12:56,320
I kind of play all around. I play a
378
00:12:52,959 --> 00:12:59,200
guard and a forward. And I'm a
379
00:12:56,320 --> 00:13:01,423
sophomore, so I'm not going to be here
380
00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,440
next year.
381
00:13:01,423 --> 00:13:01,760
[gasps]
382
00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,360
Okay.
383
00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:05,040
Yeah, I'm sure that's a huge bummer. But
384
00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:06,959
moving on up, do you know what school
385
00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,880
you're going to be transferring to?
386
00:13:06,959 --> 00:13:12,079
I'm actually just got accepted into the
387
00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:14,480
dental hygiene program here at HCC. So,
388
00:13:12,079 --> 00:13:16,880
I'm not going anywhere. So, I'll still
389
00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:18,160
be able to come back and visit the girls
390
00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:18,880
throughout the next season, which is
391
00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,480
really awesome.
392
00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:22,399
Right on. Right on. Yeah. Glad to have
393
00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:23,920
you sticking around, but I guess you
394
00:13:22,399 --> 00:13:24,399
don't have any more eligibility to play
395
00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:25,600
here.
396
00:13:24,399 --> 00:13:27,279
It's just two years.
397
00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,480
What a bummer. What's What's next in the
398
00:13:27,279 --> 00:13:29,600
journey? Like, where do you want to take
399
00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,680
that?
400
00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:33,120
Basketball-wise, I think I'm done for,
401
00:13:31,680 --> 00:13:35,200
unfortunately. But it was a great
402
00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:38,000
season. I'm really just trying to focus
403
00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:40,639
on my dental hygiene after I graduate
404
00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:42,880
with a associates in dental hygiene from
405
00:13:40,639 --> 00:13:45,200
HCC. Um, I want to see where it takes
406
00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,959
me. Possibly even go the dental route
407
00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,079
and become a dentist.
408
00:13:46,959 --> 00:13:51,120
So, yeah,
409
00:13:48,079 --> 00:13:52,720
it's exciting stuff. But jumping in, do
410
00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:54,720
you guys have a favorite game day
411
00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:57,040
ritual? Maybe like a song you all listen
412
00:13:54,720 --> 00:14:00,480
to, a snack you share, a superstition,
413
00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:02,160
just a moment you never skip pregame.
414
00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:04,079
Before a game, I always need to have a
415
00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:06,399
piece of gum. Candy can probably like I
416
00:14:04,079 --> 00:14:08,480
feel like she always sees me chewing on
417
00:14:06,399 --> 00:14:10,160
some gum or getting gum from somebody
418
00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:13,920
before a game. I got to have a piece of
419
00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:16,800
gum. I think personally I just came in
420
00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:19,839
early, went into the gym, got in the
421
00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:22,079
mindset of a game, um went to the
422
00:14:19,839 --> 00:14:23,760
athletic trainer, got everything warmed
423
00:14:22,079 --> 00:14:25,920
up, so then I'm ready to go.
424
00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:27,199
Piece of gum, little warm up with the
425
00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:30,000
trainer.
426
00:14:27,199 --> 00:14:32,720
So, how do you both feel like you've
427
00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:34,639
evolved personally as a player from the
428
00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:36,480
start of this season to the end of the
429
00:14:34,639 --> 00:14:38,079
season?
430
00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:40,560
It was actually really scary for me in
431
00:14:38,079 --> 00:14:42,800
the start of the season because
432
00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:45,040
last year I was kind of just the
433
00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:48,560
follower, but this year I was put more
434
00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:50,720
into a leadership role, which was really
435
00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:53,600
scary for me because I've never done
436
00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:55,199
that before. And when I came to the year
437
00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:57,040
and I saw the fresh faces and
438
00:14:55,199 --> 00:15:00,560
everything, it was really
439
00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:02,720
anxietyinducing because I was so focused
440
00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:05,440
on having them like me as a leader
441
00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:07,360
rather than leading itself. But
442
00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:10,399
throughout the year, I really saw myself
443
00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:13,440
becoming more and more of a leader and
444
00:15:10,399 --> 00:15:15,839
taking charge. It was very cool to see
445
00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:17,839
because now I can see myself as a leader
446
00:15:15,839 --> 00:15:19,199
and I can take that role in other parts
447
00:15:17,839 --> 00:15:20,720
of my life.
448
00:15:19,199 --> 00:15:22,480
Wow. Yeah, that's great. And nothing
449
00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,120
like sports to kind of teach you that.
450
00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,199
Mhm.
451
00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:27,120
How about you, Savannah? I feel like,
452
00:15:25,199 --> 00:15:29,199
you know, being a true freshman, I
453
00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:30,880
definitely had to adapt to the college
454
00:15:29,199 --> 00:15:33,279
life. Being a student athlete, you know,
455
00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:35,199
having lots of classes and having
456
00:15:33,279 --> 00:15:38,079
multiple days where we're doing stuff
457
00:15:35,199 --> 00:15:40,560
with basketball, like having lifting,
458
00:15:38,079 --> 00:15:42,800
study hall, then practices late. Last
459
00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:45,120
semester we have practice at 5:00 and
460
00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:47,199
sometimes it go until 8:00. So, you
461
00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:49,519
know, it was just long days like that.
462
00:15:47,199 --> 00:15:50,880
But it helped me become a better person
463
00:15:49,519 --> 00:15:52,959
because it helped with my time
464
00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:54,880
management. It made me better in class
465
00:15:52,959 --> 00:15:56,720
all around just because, you know, I had
466
00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,320
to get stuff done and I knew that it
467
00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,199
would affect basketball if I didn't get
468
00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,040
stuff done.
469
00:15:59,199 --> 00:16:02,639
And, you know, feel like I'm going into
470
00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,480
like a leader role now.
471
00:16:02,639 --> 00:16:06,079
Yeah. Learning from the best over here.
472
00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,759
I lowkey be looking up to Mackenzie,
473
00:16:06,079 --> 00:16:08,320
too. Like, I be talking to Mackenzie a
474
00:16:07,759 --> 00:16:09,839
lot
475
00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,279
and stuff like that. Like having, you
476
00:16:09,839 --> 00:16:13,120
know, her input and everything, you
477
00:16:11,279 --> 00:16:14,399
know? So, just kind of learn from that.
478
00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:15,600
That's great. And I'm glad Mackenzie,
479
00:16:14,399 --> 00:16:16,639
you're sticking around so you can kind
480
00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,160
of
481
00:16:16,639 --> 00:16:18,800
show her the ropes a little bit.
482
00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,560
Yep.
483
00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:22,720
But yeah, Savannah, you carry yourself
484
00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:24,399
like a leader. So, no worries going into
485
00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:24,959
next season. You got this.
486
00:16:24,399 --> 00:16:26,800
Thank you.
487
00:16:24,959 --> 00:16:28,480
So, when y'all were in a close game or
488
00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:31,600
going through tough stretches, what
489
00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:33,600
helps you stay locked in and focus?
490
00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:37,040
I guess I would just kind of try to help
491
00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:39,040
people stay focused in a way where, you
492
00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:41,839
know, we focused on the here and now and
493
00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:43,920
not the game that's about to end. I
494
00:16:41,839 --> 00:16:45,440
mean, personally, that really helped
495
00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:47,519
because,
496
00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:50,480
you know, I fought all the way through.
497
00:16:47,519 --> 00:16:52,160
touching on tough stretches. You got
498
00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:55,680
hurt towards the end of the season.
499
00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:58,000
I did. I uh I ended up fracturing my
500
00:16:55,680 --> 00:17:00,000
right pinky.
501
00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:03,600
3 weeks before the season was about to
502
00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:05,679
end and it's a six week recovery. It was
503
00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:09,679
really defeating at first and it was
504
00:17:05,679 --> 00:17:12,160
hard to come back and put on a good
505
00:17:09,679 --> 00:17:15,120
face. But one thing I really focused on
506
00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:18,160
was at this point or at the point that I
507
00:17:15,120 --> 00:17:20,240
broke my finger, it wasn't about me. It
508
00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:21,199
was about my team and helping them push
509
00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,919
through.
510
00:17:21,199 --> 00:17:26,559
I can only continue my role as a leader
511
00:17:23,919 --> 00:17:28,079
and still be energetic, still be really
512
00:17:26,559 --> 00:17:30,320
positive and everything because they
513
00:17:28,079 --> 00:17:32,480
don't need that negativity with, oh
514
00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:34,559
crap, I just broke my finger. Like, no,
515
00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:37,360
they didn't need that. They needed the
516
00:17:34,559 --> 00:17:40,720
positivity to be uplifted to face that
517
00:17:37,360 --> 00:17:41,600
even if I wasn't able to help them like
518
00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,200
be on the court.
519
00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:45,520
Exactly. Not on the court, but even off
520
00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:47,039
the court keeping them focused.
521
00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,240
Everybody needs a cheerleader and I'm
522
00:17:47,039 --> 00:17:49,520
sure you were hyping them up from the
523
00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:50,080
bench for sure.
524
00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:51,919
Mhm.
525
00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:54,000
What would you say to that, Savannah?
526
00:17:51,919 --> 00:17:56,400
And the close games are tough stretches.
527
00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:58,160
Personally, I just play. I look at the
528
00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,919
clock, but at the same time, if I know
529
00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:01,200
what I got to do, I just play ball.
530
00:17:59,919 --> 00:18:02,799
Can't be worried about what else is
531
00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:04,559
going on. like I just got to play my
532
00:18:02,799 --> 00:18:07,039
game, you know? I got to do what I feel
533
00:18:04,559 --> 00:18:08,400
like I got to do to win or at least make
534
00:18:07,039 --> 00:18:09,840
it closer, you know?
535
00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,120
I love that. Yeah. You got to take it
536
00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:13,200
one possession at a time.
537
00:18:11,120 --> 00:18:15,440
Yeah, for sure. For sure.
538
00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:17,520
So, what would y'all say your coaches
539
00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:19,440
emphasized most with your team
540
00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:21,840
throughout the season?
541
00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:24,400
An emphasis that she didn't like really
542
00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:26,960
talked about, but it was there was just
543
00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:31,039
team chemistry. Even in the beginning of
544
00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:32,799
the season, she really took care in how
545
00:18:31,039 --> 00:18:34,880
we treated each other, how we talked to
546
00:18:32,799 --> 00:18:37,520
each other on and off the court. Like,
547
00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:39,760
if we were fighting, we ran. But while
548
00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:41,679
it sucked, it also showed that,
549
00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:44,000
you know, we shouldn't be fighting. You
550
00:18:41,679 --> 00:18:45,919
know, it does transfer to on court. And
551
00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,600
if you're fighting in practice, you're
552
00:18:45,919 --> 00:18:48,720
going to fight during game. Exactly. And
553
00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,000
you're not going to win. What's the
554
00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:50,720
point? So,
555
00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,240
be done.
556
00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,919
Exactly. So,
557
00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:56,400
got to practice like you play.
558
00:18:53,919 --> 00:18:58,559
Exactly. How do you hold each other
559
00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:59,600
accountable when things aren't going as
560
00:18:58,559 --> 00:19:01,360
planned?
561
00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:03,039
I just, you know, I gather them in a
562
00:19:01,360 --> 00:19:04,640
group. I feel like we all do this
563
00:19:03,039 --> 00:19:06,080
though. We all grab each other in a
564
00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:08,080
group and we just talk to each other
565
00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,760
like, "Hey, you know, like this isn't
566
00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,120
working out. We need to do better on
567
00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,640
this and that and the third, you know,
568
00:19:11,120 --> 00:19:15,039
and we like try to talk to each other.
569
00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:16,960
We make sure we say we are not doing
570
00:19:15,039 --> 00:19:18,960
such and such." Not just soloing them
571
00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:20,320
out and just, you know, making them feel
572
00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,440
bad about what they did, you know, cuz
573
00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,799
that's not what that's not how
574
00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:24,400
basketball should be. You shouldn't like
575
00:19:22,799 --> 00:19:25,760
hold people accountable in like a
576
00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:28,320
negative way. You got to learn how to
577
00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:29,760
talk to people. So that's just
578
00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:31,600
definitely on make sure and they know
579
00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:33,360
that they didn't just mess up. We all
580
00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:35,039
did. So that gives them a sense of
581
00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:37,120
comfort and they know that they need to
582
00:19:35,039 --> 00:19:39,600
do better and that we as a team just
583
00:19:37,120 --> 00:19:40,559
need to lock in and you know play better
584
00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:42,400
basketball [sighs]
585
00:19:40,559 --> 00:19:43,280
and pick each other up. This isn't golf.
586
00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:44,480
This isn't
587
00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,640
you know swimming like
588
00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:48,320
right this lean on.
589
00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:50,559
Yeah.
590
00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:53,200
All right. So, what is something you've
591
00:19:50,559 --> 00:19:55,919
learned this season that has made you a
592
00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:58,640
better person on or off the court?
593
00:19:55,919 --> 00:20:01,679
I guess just how you look at things and
594
00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:03,520
how you talk to people. I I really
595
00:20:01,679 --> 00:20:04,880
learned how to look at things at a
596
00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:06,799
different light where it was, you know,
597
00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:09,600
how we messed up, but how can we fix it,
598
00:20:06,799 --> 00:20:12,400
make it better, how could this turn into
599
00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:14,400
something greater? and how and how I
600
00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:18,559
could talk to my teammates in a way
601
00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:19,919
where they aren't defeated about how we
602
00:20:18,559 --> 00:20:22,799
messed up, but instead they're
603
00:20:19,919 --> 00:20:26,480
encouraged to not only try again, but be
604
00:20:22,799 --> 00:20:28,159
better. I'd say um accountability, like
605
00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:30,640
we're student athletes before the
606
00:20:28,159 --> 00:20:32,159
athletes. And you know, a lot of people,
607
00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,679
a lot of teams, you know, especially in
608
00:20:32,159 --> 00:20:35,440
college, stuff like that, they put the
609
00:20:33,679 --> 00:20:38,000
athlete first. like you could be the
610
00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:39,600
best athlete if you aren't showing up in
611
00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,840
the classroom like you're really not
612
00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:43,520
going to go nowhere because you should
613
00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:45,200
want to get an education while you're at
614
00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,559
school, you know? So having that
615
00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:48,080
accountability, you know, it makes you
616
00:20:46,559 --> 00:20:49,520
think, okay, cool. Like basketball's
617
00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:51,280
going well, but am I doing good in
618
00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:52,080
school? Like do I need to focus more on
619
00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:53,840
school?
620
00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:56,240
Do you all ever pick each other up like
621
00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:56,960
academically? Like have a study group or
622
00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,280
anything like that?
623
00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:01,520
Yeah, we have a lot of study halls. Like
624
00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:03,520
right now would be our study hall time.
625
00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:05,360
So we definitely if people need to help
626
00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:08,240
there's so many classes and stuff like
627
00:21:05,360 --> 00:21:09,440
that where we're all together. So if
628
00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,200
they needed help with something like
629
00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:12,799
that we'd help them. We make time to
630
00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:15,440
help them because you know we want our
631
00:21:12,799 --> 00:21:17,679
teammates to know that if they need
632
00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:21,360
something from us we got them you know.
633
00:21:17,679 --> 00:21:23,760
So what felt different about the NJCAA
634
00:21:21,360 --> 00:21:26,720
region 20 tournament compared to the
635
00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:28,799
regular season? At the point when all
636
00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:30,720
the teams really focus on the
637
00:21:28,799 --> 00:21:33,039
tournament, they've played each other
638
00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:35,200
before. They know what players are good.
639
00:21:33,039 --> 00:21:39,679
They know what plays really worked
640
00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:42,960
against their team. So when we came into
641
00:21:39,679 --> 00:21:45,039
NJCAA region 20 tournament personally,
642
00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:46,400
we had to really look at, hey, okay, we
643
00:21:45,039 --> 00:21:48,960
did really well against this, this,
644
00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:51,360
this, and this team. How can we
645
00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:55,200
capitalize on that? and against the
646
00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:57,840
teams we didn't do good on. How can we
647
00:21:55,200 --> 00:22:00,720
fix our play style? How can we really
648
00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:02,720
emphasize some of our movements so then
649
00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,159
we can win that game?
650
00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:07,039
Coming up to the tournament, it was
651
00:22:04,159 --> 00:22:08,880
really just focus on what we're good on,
652
00:22:07,039 --> 00:22:10,720
you know, what we know we can execute
653
00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:12,559
and execute well.
654
00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:15,120
You know, it was a lot of film watching
655
00:22:12,559 --> 00:22:17,280
and hoping, I guess. You know, we ended
656
00:22:15,120 --> 00:22:18,799
up getting Beaver. Beaver was a I mean,
657
00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,159
in my opinion, it was a really good game
658
00:22:18,799 --> 00:22:22,240
for us. It was it was
659
00:22:20,159 --> 00:22:24,880
it was just we were head the entire
660
00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:27,280
game. Um and so because we got Beaver,
661
00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:29,039
we were able to really look into, you
662
00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:32,320
know, what worked and what didn't work.
663
00:22:29,039 --> 00:22:34,480
And I feel like we did capitalize during
664
00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,880
the tournament game, but we just kind of
665
00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:36,640
felt
666
00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,679
I think we I think we just ran out of
667
00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:39,600
gas.
668
00:22:37,679 --> 00:22:40,159
I know that was a tough loss for y'all.
669
00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,080
Yeah.
670
00:22:40,159 --> 00:22:44,640
But like you said, can't hang your head.
671
00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:46,320
It was still a good game.
672
00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:47,919
Maybe just outpaced you a little bit at
673
00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:49,280
the end. still something to look forward
674
00:22:47,919 --> 00:22:50,960
to for next year.
675
00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:52,799
Oh, yeah. We're going on a revenge tour
676
00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:55,200
next year. [laughter]
677
00:22:52,799 --> 00:22:58,400
So, [snorts] beyond wins and losses,
678
00:22:55,200 --> 00:23:00,159
what are you most proud of this year?
679
00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,919
I'm most proud of the bonds I've made
680
00:23:00,159 --> 00:23:03,360
this year. Like the sophomores that's
681
00:23:01,919 --> 00:23:05,520
now returning. I feel like I definitely
682
00:23:03,360 --> 00:23:07,200
learned from each and every one of them,
683
00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:09,120
how they contributed to the team and
684
00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:11,039
like what they brought. Awesome group of
685
00:23:09,120 --> 00:23:13,360
girls. Kind of look up to all them. You
686
00:23:11,039 --> 00:23:15,039
know, I give them praise anytime I can.
687
00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:17,120
I'm just proud of the bonds and
688
00:23:15,039 --> 00:23:17,760
everything that was made. I love this
689
00:23:17,120 --> 00:23:19,039
group of girls.
690
00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:21,039
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
691
00:23:19,039 --> 00:23:21,440
That chemistry outside of the court.
692
00:23:21,039 --> 00:23:23,200
Yeah.
693
00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:25,840
That communication,
694
00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:28,400
building blocks and tough times. All
695
00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:29,840
great things to uh hone your skills
696
00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,520
around because you all are a really
697
00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:33,600
talented bunch.
698
00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:36,400
For you, Savannah, who's returning next
699
00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:39,360
year? How do you think this season will
700
00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:41,440
shape and prepare you for next season?
701
00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:45,440
I just got to be hungrier. I've seen
702
00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:47,120
what teams are capable of. I know how it
703
00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:48,559
works being a student athlete, you know.
704
00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:50,240
So, I'm just going to focus on my
705
00:23:48,559 --> 00:23:53,919
mentality, you know. I got to always
706
00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:56,480
have a dog mentality in practice and um
707
00:23:53,919 --> 00:23:58,720
in games, you know. I got to step up, be
708
00:23:56,480 --> 00:24:00,080
a leader, too, to my team. As I've been
709
00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:01,520
a freshman, you know, and learning from
710
00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,760
like the sophomores and everything, I do
711
00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:06,159
know that it's going to shape me and
712
00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:07,120
I'll be a leader next season for sure.
713
00:24:06,159 --> 00:24:08,559
100%.
714
00:24:07,120 --> 00:24:09,840
Hey, you got that dog in you. Next
715
00:24:08,559 --> 00:24:11,279
season's going to be way better.
716
00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:12,799
Oh, yeah. Definitely.
717
00:24:11,279 --> 00:24:15,200
Got to keep that positivity up, that
718
00:24:12,799 --> 00:24:16,960
PMA, that positive mental attitude.
719
00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:19,760
Yes. Yes.
720
00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:22,080
And for you, McKenzie, who I guess are
721
00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:24,400
returning to HCC but aren't eligible to
722
00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:27,360
play, what words of advice would you
723
00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:30,799
like to share with next year's team?
724
00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:33,440
Just work hard, stay hungry. It's going
725
00:24:30,799 --> 00:24:34,640
to be really hard at first, and you're
726
00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,159
going to want to sit down, and you're
727
00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:39,039
going to want to cry, and you're going
728
00:24:36,159 --> 00:24:42,400
to want to give up, but it's all worth
729
00:24:39,039 --> 00:24:44,000
it. You're going to hate that you went
730
00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:45,679
through that, but you're gonna love how
731
00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:48,400
you are afterwards. Yeah.
732
00:24:45,679 --> 00:24:50,320
Especially all the um stamina building
733
00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:52,762
and endurance. That's what I more or
734
00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:52,880
less mean. Like you're going to suffer.
735
00:24:52,762 --> 00:24:53,520
[laughter]
736
00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:55,440
Yeah.
737
00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:58,320
Plain out and simple. You're going to
738
00:24:55,440 --> 00:25:00,159
suffer, but it's going to be so worth it
739
00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:02,640
because then you can finally run with
740
00:25:00,159 --> 00:25:05,279
your team. Yeah. Just work hard. Have
741
00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:09,200
the dog in you. You are your own
742
00:25:05,279 --> 00:25:12,400
independent person. Don't try to mold
743
00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:14,720
yourself into the perfect shooter, the
744
00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:18,000
perfect dribbler. Know what you're good
745
00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:19,840
at, perfect it, and then after you think
746
00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:22,960
you perfected it, do more because
747
00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:24,480
there's always more. Don't try to be
748
00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:26,799
something else.
749
00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:29,039
I love that. No, great answer.
750
00:25:26,799 --> 00:25:30,799
Know your role, perfect it, continue to
751
00:25:29,039 --> 00:25:32,799
get better. I dig.
752
00:25:30,799 --> 00:25:34,799
So, let's give some shoutouts here. Who
753
00:25:32,799 --> 00:25:36,799
would you say on the team brought the
754
00:25:34,799 --> 00:25:39,120
most energy?
755
00:25:36,799 --> 00:25:41,840
Savannah. [laughter]
756
00:25:39,120 --> 00:25:43,852
She always comes in in the locker room.
757
00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:44,960
Hey guys,
758
00:25:43,852 --> 00:25:46,400
[laughter and gasps]
759
00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:48,000
I definitely do think I do bring the
760
00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:49,840
energy. I'm not going to lie. I do. I
761
00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:52,000
would say myself just because everybody
762
00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:53,840
knows like I'm very loud, you know, I'm
763
00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,120
very energetic. I'm always like willing
764
00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,400
to be there, you know, even if
765
00:25:55,120 --> 00:25:58,000
something's like going wrong the day.
766
00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:59,760
Like I'm most I'm still here like ready
767
00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:01,200
to like make my teammates laugh and
768
00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:02,799
everything. So I do think I bring the
769
00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:04,480
most energy. Okay. Well, that's my
770
00:26:02,799 --> 00:26:07,360
follow-up question. Who do you think's
771
00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:10,799
the funniest player on the team?
772
00:26:07,360 --> 00:26:12,880
You know what? I would lowkey say Emma.
773
00:26:10,799 --> 00:26:14,880
She's hilarious. Like, she don't know
774
00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:16,480
what she's talking about half the time.
775
00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:18,240
Her her and Avery don't know what
776
00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:20,720
they're talking about half the time, but
777
00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:22,799
Emma is just she's got that young
778
00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:27,120
goofiness.
779
00:26:22,799 --> 00:26:31,200
And finally, what does being an HCC
780
00:26:27,120 --> 00:26:33,039
dragon mean to you? Being a dragon means
781
00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:35,440
a lot to me. Like I feel like it's not
782
00:26:33,039 --> 00:26:37,919
just one thing. It means having a whole
783
00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:39,440
community behind you and they're always
784
00:26:37,919 --> 00:26:41,679
going to give you that motivational
785
00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:44,400
boost you need. Being a dragon, I don't
786
00:26:41,679 --> 00:26:46,559
think I get this anywhere else honestly.
787
00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:48,000
Um the environment is great, you know,
788
00:26:46,559 --> 00:26:49,200
and I'm just really happy to be a
789
00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:51,279
dragon, you know.
790
00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:53,760
Yeah. I honestly I'm going to go off
791
00:26:51,279 --> 00:26:55,520
that because that's I was struggling for
792
00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:58,799
the words and you found them for me.
793
00:26:55,520 --> 00:27:00,799
It's definitely a big community and it's
794
00:26:58,799 --> 00:27:02,960
really nice because whenever you're
795
00:27:00,799 --> 00:27:05,120
struggling or anything academically,
796
00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:07,600
mentally, family-wise, they were always
797
00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:10,799
there for you. There was no doubt there
798
00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:11,279
was just pure like unconditional love.
799
00:27:10,799 --> 00:27:13,039
Yes.
800
00:27:11,279 --> 00:27:15,120
It's awesome. The really good thing
801
00:27:13,039 --> 00:27:16,720
about the HCC Dragons is that they
802
00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:19,120
paired us with the Silus Craft
803
00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:20,559
community. And you know, the first year
804
00:27:19,120 --> 00:27:22,320
being the Silus craft, I didn't really
805
00:27:20,559 --> 00:27:25,120
get the point of them. But being a
806
00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:28,653
second year and really diving into what
807
00:27:25,120 --> 00:27:29,200
the Silus craft program has to offer,
808
00:27:28,653 --> 00:27:32,640
[gasps]
809
00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:34,320
I'm really glad that the HCC women's
810
00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:36,880
basketball team connected with them
811
00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:39,279
because they adore us.
812
00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:41,520
They are they want us to be successful.
813
00:27:39,279 --> 00:27:45,120
They want us, you know, to give us those
814
00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:48,400
resources in order to be successful. and
815
00:27:45,120 --> 00:27:50,240
being a secondyear dragon and really
816
00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:52,640
using those resources that they've given
817
00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:54,720
us. Especially Silus Craft, they will
818
00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:56,640
provide you with whatever you need. It's
819
00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:59,200
really nice to have because usually I
820
00:27:56,640 --> 00:28:02,159
feel like in a college you don't have
821
00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:03,440
that kind of community and or at least
822
00:28:02,159 --> 00:28:05,039
I've never experienced that kind of
823
00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:07,200
community before even in high school or
824
00:28:05,039 --> 00:28:11,120
anything. So, it's a really awesome to
825
00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:13,440
have cherry on top. Ladies, thank you so
826
00:28:11,120 --> 00:28:16,080
much for coming inside the Dragons Layer
827
00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:18,960
today. On behalf of myself and everybody
828
00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:20,559
here at Dragon Podcast. Really excited
829
00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:22,960
for what you all have accomplished and
830
00:28:20,559 --> 00:28:25,360
will accomplish in the future. So, way
831
00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:27,120
to go. Thank you for coming on the show.
832
00:28:25,360 --> 00:28:28,320
Looking forward to see what you all got
833
00:28:27,120 --> 00:28:31,320
in the tank.
834
00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:31,320
Yes.
835
00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:36,880
McKenzie Savannah, thank you both so
836
00:28:34,559 --> 00:28:39,440
much for taking the time to join me on
837
00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:42,720
the show and reflect on your season with
838
00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:44,960
us. We recognize the heart you and your
839
00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:47,200
team brought to the court each and every
840
00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:49,600
day and truly appreciate you
841
00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:51,840
representing Dragon Athletics in such an
842
00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:54,799
impressive way.
843
00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:57,039
As this episode draws to a close, the
844
00:28:54,799 --> 00:28:59,679
stories we heard remind us that success
845
00:28:57,039 --> 00:29:03,039
in sports is about more than just wins
846
00:28:59,679 --> 00:29:05,919
and losses. It's about resilience,
847
00:29:03,039 --> 00:29:09,440
teamwork, and the community that brings
848
00:29:05,919 --> 00:29:12,880
it all together. Our goal every episode
849
00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:15,760
remains the same, to inform, entertain,
850
00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:19,919
and celebrate the athletes, coaches, and
851
00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:22,240
stories that make HCC athletics special.
852
00:29:19,919 --> 00:29:25,760
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to
853
00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:28,000
subscribe, share, and stay connected. We
854
00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:29,760
have so much more to check out in terms
855
00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:31,919
of podcasts.
856
00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:34,720
You can find Inside the Dragon's Layer
857
00:29:31,919 --> 00:29:38,640
and all our other shows on Spotify,
858
00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:42,159
Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Podbean.
859
00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:44,399
Just search Dragon Podcasts. And don't
860
00:29:42,159 --> 00:29:46,559
forget to follow HCC Athletics and
861
00:29:44,399 --> 00:29:48,960
Dragon podcasts on our social media
862
00:29:46,559 --> 00:29:51,120
pages for more updates and behind
863
00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:53,919
thecenes coverage.
864
00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:56,559
As always, thank you for tuning in.
865
00:29:53,919 --> 00:30:01,240
We'll see you next time right here
866
00:29:56,559 --> 00:30:01,240
inside the Dragons Layer.
00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:10,080
Welcome listeners to Inside the Dragons
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00:00:07,279 --> 00:00:12,960
Layer, the podcast where we go beyond
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00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:14,960
the box scores and into the heart of
4
00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:17,920
Dragon athletics.
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00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:20,400
I'm your host, Ryan Record. If you're
6
00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:23,439
new here, inside the Dragons Layer is
7
00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:25,760
where we seek to inform, entertain, and
8
00:00:23,439 --> 00:00:28,160
celebrate everything happening across
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00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:30,400
HCC athletics.
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00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:33,120
From player and coach perspectives to
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00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:35,040
the outstanding culture that fuels our
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00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:37,840
teams,
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00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:40,079
although spring sports is in full swing,
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00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:42,640
today we're taking a moment to reflect
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00:00:40,079 --> 00:00:45,360
on the journey of this past basketball
16
00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:48,239
season. Through tough stretches and
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00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:50,800
moments of triumph, our dragons stayed
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00:00:48,239 --> 00:00:54,559
headstrong through numerous challenges
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00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:56,559
and worked their tails off. In today's
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00:00:54,559 --> 00:00:59,680
episode, we'll hear from some of the
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00:00:56,559 --> 00:01:01,920
voices who lived it firsthand.
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00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:04,080
I'm delighted to have a couple student
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00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:07,360
athletes from our women's basketball
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00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:10,560
team join the pod. But first, let's roll
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00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:12,320
out the sports update. As always, to
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00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:14,960
help us break it all down, we're joined
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00:01:12,320 --> 00:01:17,119
by our sports information director and
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00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:21,600
unofficial stat sheet whisperer for
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00:01:17,119 --> 00:01:23,439
Dragon Athletics, Isaac Donsky.
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00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,360
Well, thanks, Ryan, and it's good to be
31
00:01:23,439 --> 00:01:27,520
back once again. Uh, spring break was a
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00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:29,280
lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to
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00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,040
uh giving you guys the rundown of
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00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:33,520
everything that happened with HCC
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00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:35,600
athletics. Spring sports are in full
36
00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,960
session here at HCC. We've got a lot to
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00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:38,479
cover, but first, let's talk about the
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00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:40,479
end of the winter sports season. And
39
00:01:38,479 --> 00:01:43,040
unfortunately for the Dragons, it did
40
00:01:40,479 --> 00:01:44,960
not go according to plan. Men's
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00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:47,520
basketball managed to make the playoffs
42
00:01:44,960 --> 00:01:50,000
as the number two seed after a pretty
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00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,680
rough loss to CCBC Caitensville in the
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00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:53,200
final week of the regular season. The
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00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:54,960
Dragons would host the seventh seated
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00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,960
Montgomery College Raptors. And in one
47
00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:59,280
of the best games we have ever seen at
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00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:01,040
the Kart Foundation complex, the Dragons
49
00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:04,960
and the Raptors would battle to an
50
00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:06,560
overtime draw where unfortunately with
51
00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:09,200
seconds left, Montgomery hit a
52
00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:12,000
game-winning dunk. A brutal loss for the
53
00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:14,239
Dragons, one that unfortunately ends the
54
00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:16,400
chances of the three repeat, but it was
55
00:02:14,239 --> 00:02:19,120
still a hard-fought game. Sophomore
56
00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:21,360
Sincere Barfield went out on top with 35
57
00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:23,440
points in his final collegiate game. And
58
00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:25,280
the Dragons are now looking forward to
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00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:27,520
rebuilding and getting set to try and
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00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:29,040
keep their dynasty alive next year. A
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00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,400
big congratulations, by the way, to our
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00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,000
rivals, the Prince George's Community
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00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:35,280
College Owls, for winning the region 20
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00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:37,120
championship. They were a D3 team not
65
00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:39,040
too long ago, and now they've
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00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,720
successfully managed to take home their
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00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,239
first division 2 championship. So, good
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00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:43,599
for them. And want to let it be known
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00:02:42,239 --> 00:02:45,360
that the Dragons did beat them in the
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00:02:43,599 --> 00:02:48,080
regular season. So, had we gotten past
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00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,599
the first round, we had a chance. Uh,
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00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,040
women's basketball unfortunately also
73
00:02:49,599 --> 00:02:53,599
had their season into the first round.
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00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:56,000
The Dragons finished the season as the
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00:02:53,599 --> 00:02:57,599
number six seed and traveled to
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00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,959
Pittsburgh to face off against the
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00:02:57,599 --> 00:03:00,560
Community College of Beaver County, the
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00:02:58,959 --> 00:03:03,599
three- seed. One of the big surprises in
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00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:05,040
region 20 this year. This game was a
80
00:03:03,599 --> 00:03:06,159
close game in the second half, but in
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00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,680
the first half, it was a bit of a
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00:03:06,159 --> 00:03:09,280
blowout. Beaver County had excellent
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00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:11,360
three-point shooting, and they took a
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00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:12,800
huge lead early over the Dragons. Howard
85
00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:15,519
fought back though in the second half,
86
00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:17,360
aided by 18 points from Savannah Price.
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00:03:15,519 --> 00:03:18,720
But unfortunately, it wasn't enough and
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00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,480
the Dragons get bounced in the first
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00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,920
round for the second straight year. This
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00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,680
also marks the first time the Dragons
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00:03:21,920 --> 00:03:25,360
have had a losing record since head
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00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:28,239
coach Aaron Barnes took over as they
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00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:29,920
finished with a 15-6 record. This game
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00:03:28,239 --> 00:03:31,440
would also prove to be the final game
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00:03:29,920 --> 00:03:33,680
for head coach Aaron Barnes, who
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00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:35,040
announced just a few weeks later that
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00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:37,040
she will be stepping down from the
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00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:39,120
program. Coach Barnes will leave with
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00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:41,440
the all-time record for wins in women's
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00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,640
basketball and helped guide the Dragons
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00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:45,840
through a particularly difficult
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00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:47,840
transitional time in which they uh had
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00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:50,480
to play without a home gym, had to play
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00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:52,080
through co and during this time they
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00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,599
never missed the playoffs. The two years
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00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,519
in which the Dragons were playing on the
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00:03:53,599 --> 00:03:57,439
road, they had their best records in
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00:03:55,519 --> 00:03:59,680
program history. Coach Barnes will be
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00:03:57,439 --> 00:04:00,879
missed here at HCC. She did so much for
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00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:02,159
the program and for the athletic
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00:04:00,879 --> 00:04:05,120
department working as the student
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00:04:02,159 --> 00:04:07,760
success coordinator and we can never
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00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:10,319
thank her enough for everything that she
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did to the program. So, Coach Aaron,
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00:04:10,319 --> 00:04:14,159
thank you so much for everything you
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00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,840
have done and we know it didn't end the
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00:04:14,159 --> 00:04:18,000
way we had hoped, but we wish you the
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00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:20,079
best in the next chapter of your life.
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00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,759
Let's move on to spring sports, which
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00:04:20,079 --> 00:04:23,360
have been the big focus for the last
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00:04:21,759 --> 00:04:24,880
month because there has been a lot going
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00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,479
on. I want to start things off with
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00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:28,320
track and field, who I feel like doesn't
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00:04:26,479 --> 00:04:30,240
get the respect they deserve. A lot of
125
00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:32,479
the greatest athletes in HCC history
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00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:34,320
have come out of track and field and so
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00:04:32,479 --> 00:04:36,160
far this season, it's been a fun one so
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00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:39,040
far. The Dragons have a packed schedule
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00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:41,520
of meets for the spring and they kicked
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00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:43,840
off their season on March 7th heading to
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00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:46,160
the Lloyd Sigler spring meet at
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00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:48,000
Salsbury, Maryland, where they broke
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00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:51,280
some records. The school record for the
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00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:52,800
4x100 was smashed by the Dragons. And
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00:04:51,280 --> 00:04:54,960
that wasn't the only record they set.
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00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:57,280
More records were set at the next match
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00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:59,600
in Elon, North Carolina, the Phoenix
138
00:04:57,280 --> 00:05:01,280
Invitational. And then at the Allen
139
00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:03,040
Connie Shamrock Invitational, one of the
140
00:05:01,280 --> 00:05:05,040
biggest meets in all of track and field
141
00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:07,120
where both fouryear and two-year schools
142
00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:09,360
were in attendance, the Dragons
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00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:11,919
continued to impress. And the big
144
00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:14,479
impressor was Air Moad. The freshman
145
00:05:11,919 --> 00:05:16,800
broke the 21-year-old record for the
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00:05:14,479 --> 00:05:20,400
men's 100 meter dash for the Dragons,
147
00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:22,400
setting a time of 10.39
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00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:24,000
seconds in his qualifying race. That
149
00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:26,080
breaks the record that was previously
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00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:29,759
held by Dragon's head coach Phil D.
151
00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:32,240
Roier set in 2005 of a 10.47. Moad was
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00:05:29,759 --> 00:05:35,039
able to finish fifth overall amongst all
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00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:37,520
100 meter dash runners in that meet for
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00:05:35,039 --> 00:05:39,520
the Dragons and has qualified himself
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00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:41,440
for the National Junior College Athletic
156
00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:44,080
Association's track and field nationals
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00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:46,000
at HOBS New Mexico in June. So we're
158
00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,919
very much looking forward to seeing what
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00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:50,080
he could do the rest of the season. Most
160
00:05:47,919 --> 00:05:51,919
recently, the Dragons headed to George
161
00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,280
Mason University for the Dalton Ebanks
162
00:05:51,919 --> 00:05:55,520
Invitational, where the big highlight
163
00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:56,960
there was Chancellor D. Roier, son of
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00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,720
head coach Phil Drossier, finishing
165
00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:00,320
fifth in the triple jump. It's been a
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00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,600
fun year so far. A lot of growth from
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00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:02,800
this track and field team. A lot of
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00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,400
records have been broken, and we're
169
00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:07,440
looking forward to see what more records
170
00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:09,440
can be broken in the coming months.
171
00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:11,680
HCC's flag football team began their
172
00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:13,039
second season of competition this year,
173
00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,319
and this is the first year that they're
174
00:06:13,039 --> 00:06:18,080
actually playing in a legit conference.
175
00:06:14,319 --> 00:06:20,400
The Dragons play in the National College
176
00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:22,479
Flag Football League alongside many
177
00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:24,160
four-year and two-year schools and
178
00:06:22,479 --> 00:06:26,880
continue their quest to become the first
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00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:29,759
major 2-year program fielding a flag
180
00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:32,240
football program on the East Coast in
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00:06:29,759 --> 00:06:34,720
JO. And so far this season, it has been
182
00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:36,479
a season of development. The Dragons
183
00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:38,319
brought in a lot of new players and had
184
00:06:36,479 --> 00:06:39,759
some struggles. They lost their first
185
00:06:38,319 --> 00:06:42,160
game of the season against Galedet
186
00:06:39,759 --> 00:06:45,600
University and then hosted the Maryland
187
00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:47,919
Invitational for the NCFL in which they
188
00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,360
lost all four of their games, but each
189
00:06:47,919 --> 00:06:51,440
game they got better and better. They
190
00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:53,919
did well against Keen University and Cal
191
00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:55,520
University of Pennsylvania. A lopsided
192
00:06:53,919 --> 00:06:57,280
loss against Ruters on the second day
193
00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,880
kind of dampened some spirits, but in
194
00:06:57,280 --> 00:07:00,319
the fourth and final game of the weekend
195
00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:02,240
against Sunni Courtland, the Dragons
196
00:07:00,319 --> 00:07:04,000
almost pulled out the upset. London
197
00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,599
Galbrath, fresh off of an excellent
198
00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:07,440
season at women's basketball, scored the
199
00:07:05,599 --> 00:07:09,919
first touchdown of the year on an end
200
00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:11,280
round 60-yard touchdown run. The Dragons
201
00:07:09,919 --> 00:07:13,039
almost scored another touchdown, but it
202
00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,880
was called back after an illegal block
203
00:07:13,039 --> 00:07:17,039
was called, but the Dragons kept it
204
00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:19,280
close and ended up only losing 13 to7 to
205
00:07:17,039 --> 00:07:20,800
Sunni Courtland. The team looks a lot
206
00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:22,560
better than they did last year. They're
207
00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:24,560
continuing their development, and head
208
00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,400
coach Kia Smith continues to work to
209
00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:29,280
bring in new recruits to make this team
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as good as they can be. Softball this
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season got off to a bit of a rocky
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start. I think the best way to sum up
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this season for softball up to this
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point has been well listen we've got our
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games in. Uh due to all the bad winter
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weather that we had, the Dragons had
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difficulty starting their season to
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begin with. Their first slate of games
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were supposed to take place at Richard
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Bland College, but all four got
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cancelled due to bad field conditions.
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And then when they headed down to
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Raleigh, North Carolina for the Triangle
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Classic JO tournament, their first two
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games got washed out due to rain.
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Thankfully, they finally started to play
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and so far this season, it's been very,
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very good for the softball team. They
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look just as good as they did last year.
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There's obviously things to work on, but
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the team is performing quite well.
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They've got a solid returning cast of
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sophomores, including starting pitchers
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Sophia Steel and Marissa Webb. And
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they've got some excellent freshmen,
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including the team's leading batter this
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season, Gianna Paluso, aka G Money, hit
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for the cycle and leads the team in home
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runs already this season. Howard's usual
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home at Kowanas Wallace Park was damaged
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by the winter weather. So the Dragons
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had to play their first two home series
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at Catholic University of America in
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Washington DC and they actually did
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pretty well there. They went 3-1 in
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their four games at Catholic. Since
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returning to Kuanas Wallace Park, the
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Dragons have been almost undefeable,
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only dropping one game at Kuanas Wallace
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so far this season. And that one game
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was against Corning Community College,
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the number five ranked D3 team in the
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country. And the Dragons almost came
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back and won that. Howard was trailing
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14 to5 entering the bottom of the
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seventh. They lost 14 to13. They almost
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won that game. Absolutely absurd. The
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Dragons of course are aiming to try and
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take down the big dogs in region 20, Pot
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State, Southern Maryland, Caitensville,
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and so far they currently look like they
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might have a very good chance of doing
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that. They just wrapped up their spring
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break road trip up in New Jersey and New
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York where they went a combined 3-1. And
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one of those games, I have to highlight
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this. Sophomore Taylor Pence, who's back
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for her third season after missing last
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year with a torn ACL, hit an inside the
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park home run against Monroe Bronx. That
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was probably the highlight of the season
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so far. They are looking forward to
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closing out the season by knocking off
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some of their biggest rivals, including
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arch rival CCBC Caitensville. Those
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games are always a lot of fun, and
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they're looking forward to trying to
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make the Region 20 tournament, which at
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the moment it looks like they will make
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it thanks to their solid start to the
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season. Finally, our last spring sport
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I'm most excited to talk about, and that
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is lacrosse. Lacrosse has always been
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one of the more impactful sports here at
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HCC in terms of number of players sent
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to four-year schools and in terms of
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national significance. Head coach Eric
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Faust, who just got his 100th victory as
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Dragons head coach this year, has always
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put together a strong team. And this
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year's team might be the one to finally
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achieve the Dragons long dream of
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winning a national championship because,
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oh, they are good. This season has been
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an incredible one for the Dragons.
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Howard currently features three of the
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top five goal scorers in the country.
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They feature one of the best goalies in
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the country, two of the best defenders
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in the country based on number of ground
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balls caused turnovers and they reached
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the number one ranking in the country
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earlier this season after picking up
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huge wins against ranked opponents in
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Anandaga Community College, Nassau
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Community College, and a double overtime
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victory over the fifth ranked team in
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the country, the College of DuPage.
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Howard's only two losses came against
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Harford Community College, the number
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one team in the country and the
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defending national champions. But in
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their first game against Harford that
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went to double overtime, Dragons took
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the Fighting Owls to the limit. It took
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double overtime in near darkness for
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Harford to score the game-winning goal.
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Now, the Dragons did lose to Harford in
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their first game as number one team in
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the country. That one we're trying to
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bounce back from, but what a year it has
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been for the Dragons. They have a lot of
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players who are being sent over to
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four-year schools who have committed.
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It's looking like this team could make a
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deep run in the region 20 tournament and
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the national tournament. They're pretty
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much locked to make both. It's going to
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be a fun fun year and we know that this
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team can play hard and we know that this
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team could potentially challenge for a
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national championship and I think that
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they could go on a deep tournament run.
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I think they are probably the best team
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in all of JO lacrosse. I think the only
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team that's a little better than them
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right now is Harford, but they know what
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their weaknesses are. They know what
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they need to do to beat them. And I
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think that they will see Harford again
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come the Region 20 tournament and
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perhaps the national tournament as well.
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Anyway, that'll do it for the recap of
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all of our sports. I know this was a
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longer one than usual. That's because
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there's been a lot that's been going on.
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Next time we'll talk about the
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conclusion of the spring sports season
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and we'll uh see how all of our teams
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did in the postseason. Looking forward
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to what's going to happen there. I'm
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going to turn it back to you Ryan. This
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is the big man on the mic, Isaac
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Donssky, signing off. Thanks for
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listening to me. Yeah, for the last 10
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minutes, folks.
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[music]
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Appreciate the in-depth update as
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always, Isaac.
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00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:10,240
Behind every team at HCC is a group of
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athletes who put in the work day in and
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day out in practice, in the locker room,
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and especially on game day. In our next
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segment, the heart of a dragon, we're
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highlighting two exceptional student
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athletes from the women's basketball
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team as they reflect on their season,
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00:12:27,279 --> 00:12:33,120
the challenges they overcame, and their
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growth both on and off the court. Today,
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I have the pleasure of being joined by
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Savannah Price and Mackenzie Walters.
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And it's a pleasure to have you both
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here. Uh, if you could share your
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position and what year you're in
375
00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:50,639
currently. My position is shooting
376
00:12:46,959 --> 00:12:52,959
guard. My year I'm a freshman. [gasps]
377
00:12:50,639 --> 00:12:56,320
I kind of play all around. I play a
378
00:12:52,959 --> 00:12:59,200
guard and a forward. And I'm a
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00:12:56,320 --> 00:13:01,423
sophomore, so I'm not going to be here
380
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next year.
381
00:13:01,423 --> 00:13:01,760
[gasps]
382
00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,360
Okay.
383
00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:05,040
Yeah, I'm sure that's a huge bummer. But
384
00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:06,959
moving on up, do you know what school
385
00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,880
you're going to be transferring to?
386
00:13:06,959 --> 00:13:12,079
I'm actually just got accepted into the
387
00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:14,480
dental hygiene program here at HCC. So,
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00:13:12,079 --> 00:13:16,880
I'm not going anywhere. So, I'll still
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00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:18,160
be able to come back and visit the girls
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00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:18,880
throughout the next season, which is
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00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,480
really awesome.
392
00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:22,399
Right on. Right on. Yeah. Glad to have
393
00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:23,920
you sticking around, but I guess you
394
00:13:22,399 --> 00:13:24,399
don't have any more eligibility to play
395
00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:25,600
here.
396
00:13:24,399 --> 00:13:27,279
It's just two years.
397
00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,480
What a bummer. What's What's next in the
398
00:13:27,279 --> 00:13:29,600
journey? Like, where do you want to take
399
00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,680
that?
400
00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:33,120
Basketball-wise, I think I'm done for,
401
00:13:31,680 --> 00:13:35,200
unfortunately. But it was a great
402
00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:38,000
season. I'm really just trying to focus
403
00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:40,639
on my dental hygiene after I graduate
404
00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:42,880
with a associates in dental hygiene from
405
00:13:40,639 --> 00:13:45,200
HCC. Um, I want to see where it takes
406
00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,959
me. Possibly even go the dental route
407
00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,079
and become a dentist.
408
00:13:46,959 --> 00:13:51,120
So, yeah,
409
00:13:48,079 --> 00:13:52,720
it's exciting stuff. But jumping in, do
410
00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:54,720
you guys have a favorite game day
411
00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:57,040
ritual? Maybe like a song you all listen
412
00:13:54,720 --> 00:14:00,480
to, a snack you share, a superstition,
413
00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:02,160
just a moment you never skip pregame.
414
00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:04,079
Before a game, I always need to have a
415
00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:06,399
piece of gum. Candy can probably like I
416
00:14:04,079 --> 00:14:08,480
feel like she always sees me chewing on
417
00:14:06,399 --> 00:14:10,160
some gum or getting gum from somebody
418
00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:13,920
before a game. I got to have a piece of
419
00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:16,800
gum. I think personally I just came in
420
00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:19,839
early, went into the gym, got in the
421
00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:22,079
mindset of a game, um went to the
422
00:14:19,839 --> 00:14:23,760
athletic trainer, got everything warmed
423
00:14:22,079 --> 00:14:25,920
up, so then I'm ready to go.
424
00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:27,199
Piece of gum, little warm up with the
425
00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:30,000
trainer.
426
00:14:27,199 --> 00:14:32,720
So, how do you both feel like you've
427
00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:34,639
evolved personally as a player from the
428
00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:36,480
start of this season to the end of the
429
00:14:34,639 --> 00:14:38,079
season?
430
00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:40,560
It was actually really scary for me in
431
00:14:38,079 --> 00:14:42,800
the start of the season because
432
00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:45,040
last year I was kind of just the
433
00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:48,560
follower, but this year I was put more
434
00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:50,720
into a leadership role, which was really
435
00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:53,600
scary for me because I've never done
436
00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:55,199
that before. And when I came to the year
437
00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:57,040
and I saw the fresh faces and
438
00:14:55,199 --> 00:15:00,560
everything, it was really
439
00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:02,720
anxietyinducing because I was so focused
440
00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:05,440
on having them like me as a leader
441
00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:07,360
rather than leading itself. But
442
00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:10,399
throughout the year, I really saw myself
443
00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:13,440
becoming more and more of a leader and
444
00:15:10,399 --> 00:15:15,839
taking charge. It was very cool to see
445
00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:17,839
because now I can see myself as a leader
446
00:15:15,839 --> 00:15:19,199
and I can take that role in other parts
447
00:15:17,839 --> 00:15:20,720
of my life.
448
00:15:19,199 --> 00:15:22,480
Wow. Yeah, that's great. And nothing
449
00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,120
like sports to kind of teach you that.
450
00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,199
Mhm.
451
00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:27,120
How about you, Savannah? I feel like,
452
00:15:25,199 --> 00:15:29,199
you know, being a true freshman, I
453
00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:30,880
definitely had to adapt to the college
454
00:15:29,199 --> 00:15:33,279
life. Being a student athlete, you know,
455
00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:35,199
having lots of classes and having
456
00:15:33,279 --> 00:15:38,079
multiple days where we're doing stuff
457
00:15:35,199 --> 00:15:40,560
with basketball, like having lifting,
458
00:15:38,079 --> 00:15:42,800
study hall, then practices late. Last
459
00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:45,120
semester we have practice at 5:00 and
460
00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:47,199
sometimes it go until 8:00. So, you
461
00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:49,519
know, it was just long days like that.
462
00:15:47,199 --> 00:15:50,880
But it helped me become a better person
463
00:15:49,519 --> 00:15:52,959
because it helped with my time
464
00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:54,880
management. It made me better in class
465
00:15:52,959 --> 00:15:56,720
all around just because, you know, I had
466
00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,320
to get stuff done and I knew that it
467
00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,199
would affect basketball if I didn't get
468
00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,040
stuff done.
469
00:15:59,199 --> 00:16:02,639
And, you know, feel like I'm going into
470
00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,480
like a leader role now.
471
00:16:02,639 --> 00:16:06,079
Yeah. Learning from the best over here.
472
00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,759
I lowkey be looking up to Mackenzie,
473
00:16:06,079 --> 00:16:08,320
too. Like, I be talking to Mackenzie a
474
00:16:07,759 --> 00:16:09,839
lot
475
00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,279
and stuff like that. Like having, you
476
00:16:09,839 --> 00:16:13,120
know, her input and everything, you
477
00:16:11,279 --> 00:16:14,399
know? So, just kind of learn from that.
478
00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:15,600
That's great. And I'm glad Mackenzie,
479
00:16:14,399 --> 00:16:16,639
you're sticking around so you can kind
480
00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,160
of
481
00:16:16,639 --> 00:16:18,800
show her the ropes a little bit.
482
00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,560
Yep.
483
00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:22,720
But yeah, Savannah, you carry yourself
484
00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:24,399
like a leader. So, no worries going into
485
00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:24,959
next season. You got this.
486
00:16:24,399 --> 00:16:26,800
Thank you.
487
00:16:24,959 --> 00:16:28,480
So, when y'all were in a close game or
488
00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:31,600
going through tough stretches, what
489
00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:33,600
helps you stay locked in and focus?
490
00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:37,040
I guess I would just kind of try to help
491
00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:39,040
people stay focused in a way where, you
492
00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:41,839
know, we focused on the here and now and
493
00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:43,920
not the game that's about to end. I
494
00:16:41,839 --> 00:16:45,440
mean, personally, that really helped
495
00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:47,519
because,
496
00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:50,480
you know, I fought all the way through.
497
00:16:47,519 --> 00:16:52,160
touching on tough stretches. You got
498
00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:55,680
hurt towards the end of the season.
499
00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:58,000
I did. I uh I ended up fracturing my
500
00:16:55,680 --> 00:17:00,000
right pinky.
501
00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:03,600
3 weeks before the season was about to
502
00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:05,679
end and it's a six week recovery. It was
503
00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:09,679
really defeating at first and it was
504
00:17:05,679 --> 00:17:12,160
hard to come back and put on a good
505
00:17:09,679 --> 00:17:15,120
face. But one thing I really focused on
506
00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:18,160
was at this point or at the point that I
507
00:17:15,120 --> 00:17:20,240
broke my finger, it wasn't about me. It
508
00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:21,199
was about my team and helping them push
509
00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,919
through.
510
00:17:21,199 --> 00:17:26,559
I can only continue my role as a leader
511
00:17:23,919 --> 00:17:28,079
and still be energetic, still be really
512
00:17:26,559 --> 00:17:30,320
positive and everything because they
513
00:17:28,079 --> 00:17:32,480
don't need that negativity with, oh
514
00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:34,559
crap, I just broke my finger. Like, no,
515
00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:37,360
they didn't need that. They needed the
516
00:17:34,559 --> 00:17:40,720
positivity to be uplifted to face that
517
00:17:37,360 --> 00:17:41,600
even if I wasn't able to help them like
518
00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,200
be on the court.
519
00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:45,520
Exactly. Not on the court, but even off
520
00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:47,039
the court keeping them focused.
521
00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,240
Everybody needs a cheerleader and I'm
522
00:17:47,039 --> 00:17:49,520
sure you were hyping them up from the
523
00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:50,080
bench for sure.
524
00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:51,919
Mhm.
525
00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:54,000
What would you say to that, Savannah?
526
00:17:51,919 --> 00:17:56,400
And the close games are tough stretches.
527
00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:58,160
Personally, I just play. I look at the
528
00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,919
clock, but at the same time, if I know
529
00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:01,200
what I got to do, I just play ball.
530
00:17:59,919 --> 00:18:02,799
Can't be worried about what else is
531
00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:04,559
going on. like I just got to play my
532
00:18:02,799 --> 00:18:07,039
game, you know? I got to do what I feel
533
00:18:04,559 --> 00:18:08,400
like I got to do to win or at least make
534
00:18:07,039 --> 00:18:09,840
it closer, you know?
535
00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,120
I love that. Yeah. You got to take it
536
00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:13,200
one possession at a time.
537
00:18:11,120 --> 00:18:15,440
Yeah, for sure. For sure.
538
00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:17,520
So, what would y'all say your coaches
539
00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:19,440
emphasized most with your team
540
00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:21,840
throughout the season?
541
00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:24,400
An emphasis that she didn't like really
542
00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:26,960
talked about, but it was there was just
543
00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:31,039
team chemistry. Even in the beginning of
544
00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:32,799
the season, she really took care in how
545
00:18:31,039 --> 00:18:34,880
we treated each other, how we talked to
546
00:18:32,799 --> 00:18:37,520
each other on and off the court. Like,
547
00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:39,760
if we were fighting, we ran. But while
548
00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:41,679
it sucked, it also showed that,
549
00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:44,000
you know, we shouldn't be fighting. You
550
00:18:41,679 --> 00:18:45,919
know, it does transfer to on court. And
551
00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,600
if you're fighting in practice, you're
552
00:18:45,919 --> 00:18:48,720
going to fight during game. Exactly. And
553
00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,000
you're not going to win. What's the
554
00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:50,720
point? So,
555
00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,240
be done.
556
00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,919
Exactly. So,
557
00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:56,400
got to practice like you play.
558
00:18:53,919 --> 00:18:58,559
Exactly. How do you hold each other
559
00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:59,600
accountable when things aren't going as
560
00:18:58,559 --> 00:19:01,360
planned?
561
00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:03,039
I just, you know, I gather them in a
562
00:19:01,360 --> 00:19:04,640
group. I feel like we all do this
563
00:19:03,039 --> 00:19:06,080
though. We all grab each other in a
564
00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:08,080
group and we just talk to each other
565
00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,760
like, "Hey, you know, like this isn't
566
00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,120
working out. We need to do better on
567
00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,640
this and that and the third, you know,
568
00:19:11,120 --> 00:19:15,039
and we like try to talk to each other.
569
00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:16,960
We make sure we say we are not doing
570
00:19:15,039 --> 00:19:18,960
such and such." Not just soloing them
571
00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:20,320
out and just, you know, making them feel
572
00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,440
bad about what they did, you know, cuz
573
00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,799
that's not what that's not how
574
00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:24,400
basketball should be. You shouldn't like
575
00:19:22,799 --> 00:19:25,760
hold people accountable in like a
576
00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:28,320
negative way. You got to learn how to
577
00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:29,760
talk to people. So that's just
578
00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:31,600
definitely on make sure and they know
579
00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:33,360
that they didn't just mess up. We all
580
00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:35,039
did. So that gives them a sense of
581
00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:37,120
comfort and they know that they need to
582
00:19:35,039 --> 00:19:39,600
do better and that we as a team just
583
00:19:37,120 --> 00:19:40,559
need to lock in and you know play better
584
00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:42,400
basketball [sighs]
585
00:19:40,559 --> 00:19:43,280
and pick each other up. This isn't golf.
586
00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:44,480
This isn't
587
00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,640
you know swimming like
588
00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:48,320
right this lean on.
589
00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:50,559
Yeah.
590
00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:53,200
All right. So, what is something you've
591
00:19:50,559 --> 00:19:55,919
learned this season that has made you a
592
00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:58,640
better person on or off the court?
593
00:19:55,919 --> 00:20:01,679
I guess just how you look at things and
594
00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:03,520
how you talk to people. I I really
595
00:20:01,679 --> 00:20:04,880
learned how to look at things at a
596
00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:06,799
different light where it was, you know,
597
00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:09,600
how we messed up, but how can we fix it,
598
00:20:06,799 --> 00:20:12,400
make it better, how could this turn into
599
00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:14,400
something greater? and how and how I
600
00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:18,559
could talk to my teammates in a way
601
00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:19,919
where they aren't defeated about how we
602
00:20:18,559 --> 00:20:22,799
messed up, but instead they're
603
00:20:19,919 --> 00:20:26,480
encouraged to not only try again, but be
604
00:20:22,799 --> 00:20:28,159
better. I'd say um accountability, like
605
00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:30,640
we're student athletes before the
606
00:20:28,159 --> 00:20:32,159
athletes. And you know, a lot of people,
607
00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,679
a lot of teams, you know, especially in
608
00:20:32,159 --> 00:20:35,440
college, stuff like that, they put the
609
00:20:33,679 --> 00:20:38,000
athlete first. like you could be the
610
00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:39,600
best athlete if you aren't showing up in
611
00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,840
the classroom like you're really not
612
00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:43,520
going to go nowhere because you should
613
00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:45,200
want to get an education while you're at
614
00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,559
school, you know? So having that
615
00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:48,080
accountability, you know, it makes you
616
00:20:46,559 --> 00:20:49,520
think, okay, cool. Like basketball's
617
00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:51,280
going well, but am I doing good in
618
00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:52,080
school? Like do I need to focus more on
619
00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:53,840
school?
620
00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:56,240
Do you all ever pick each other up like
621
00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:56,960
academically? Like have a study group or
622
00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,280
anything like that?
623
00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:01,520
Yeah, we have a lot of study halls. Like
624
00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:03,520
right now would be our study hall time.
625
00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:05,360
So we definitely if people need to help
626
00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:08,240
there's so many classes and stuff like
627
00:21:05,360 --> 00:21:09,440
that where we're all together. So if
628
00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,200
they needed help with something like
629
00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:12,799
that we'd help them. We make time to
630
00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:15,440
help them because you know we want our
631
00:21:12,799 --> 00:21:17,679
teammates to know that if they need
632
00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:21,360
something from us we got them you know.
633
00:21:17,679 --> 00:21:23,760
So what felt different about the NJCAA
634
00:21:21,360 --> 00:21:26,720
region 20 tournament compared to the
635
00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:28,799
regular season? At the point when all
636
00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:30,720
the teams really focus on the
637
00:21:28,799 --> 00:21:33,039
tournament, they've played each other
638
00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:35,200
before. They know what players are good.
639
00:21:33,039 --> 00:21:39,679
They know what plays really worked
640
00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:42,960
against their team. So when we came into
641
00:21:39,679 --> 00:21:45,039
NJCAA region 20 tournament personally,
642
00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:46,400
we had to really look at, hey, okay, we
643
00:21:45,039 --> 00:21:48,960
did really well against this, this,
644
00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:51,360
this, and this team. How can we
645
00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:55,200
capitalize on that? and against the
646
00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:57,840
teams we didn't do good on. How can we
647
00:21:55,200 --> 00:22:00,720
fix our play style? How can we really
648
00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:02,720
emphasize some of our movements so then
649
00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,159
we can win that game?
650
00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:07,039
Coming up to the tournament, it was
651
00:22:04,159 --> 00:22:08,880
really just focus on what we're good on,
652
00:22:07,039 --> 00:22:10,720
you know, what we know we can execute
653
00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:12,559
and execute well.
654
00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:15,120
You know, it was a lot of film watching
655
00:22:12,559 --> 00:22:17,280
and hoping, I guess. You know, we ended
656
00:22:15,120 --> 00:22:18,799
up getting Beaver. Beaver was a I mean,
657
00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,159
in my opinion, it was a really good game
658
00:22:18,799 --> 00:22:22,240
for us. It was it was
659
00:22:20,159 --> 00:22:24,880
it was just we were head the entire
660
00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:27,280
game. Um and so because we got Beaver,
661
00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:29,039
we were able to really look into, you
662
00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:32,320
know, what worked and what didn't work.
663
00:22:29,039 --> 00:22:34,480
And I feel like we did capitalize during
664
00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,880
the tournament game, but we just kind of
665
00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:36,640
felt
666
00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,679
I think we I think we just ran out of
667
00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:39,600
gas.
668
00:22:37,679 --> 00:22:40,159
I know that was a tough loss for y'all.
669
00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,080
Yeah.
670
00:22:40,159 --> 00:22:44,640
But like you said, can't hang your head.
671
00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:46,320
It was still a good game.
672
00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:47,919
Maybe just outpaced you a little bit at
673
00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:49,280
the end. still something to look forward
674
00:22:47,919 --> 00:22:50,960
to for next year.
675
00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:52,799
Oh, yeah. We're going on a revenge tour
676
00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:55,200
next year. [laughter]
677
00:22:52,799 --> 00:22:58,400
So, [snorts] beyond wins and losses,
678
00:22:55,200 --> 00:23:00,159
what are you most proud of this year?
679
00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,919
I'm most proud of the bonds I've made
680
00:23:00,159 --> 00:23:03,360
this year. Like the sophomores that's
681
00:23:01,919 --> 00:23:05,520
now returning. I feel like I definitely
682
00:23:03,360 --> 00:23:07,200
learned from each and every one of them,
683
00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:09,120
how they contributed to the team and
684
00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:11,039
like what they brought. Awesome group of
685
00:23:09,120 --> 00:23:13,360
girls. Kind of look up to all them. You
686
00:23:11,039 --> 00:23:15,039
know, I give them praise anytime I can.
687
00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:17,120
I'm just proud of the bonds and
688
00:23:15,039 --> 00:23:17,760
everything that was made. I love this
689
00:23:17,120 --> 00:23:19,039
group of girls.
690
00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:21,039
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
691
00:23:19,039 --> 00:23:21,440
That chemistry outside of the court.
692
00:23:21,039 --> 00:23:23,200
Yeah.
693
00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:25,840
That communication,
694
00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:28,400
building blocks and tough times. All
695
00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:29,840
great things to uh hone your skills
696
00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,520
around because you all are a really
697
00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:33,600
talented bunch.
698
00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:36,400
For you, Savannah, who's returning next
699
00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:39,360
year? How do you think this season will
700
00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:41,440
shape and prepare you for next season?
701
00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:45,440
I just got to be hungrier. I've seen
702
00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:47,120
what teams are capable of. I know how it
703
00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:48,559
works being a student athlete, you know.
704
00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:50,240
So, I'm just going to focus on my
705
00:23:48,559 --> 00:23:53,919
mentality, you know. I got to always
706
00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:56,480
have a dog mentality in practice and um
707
00:23:53,919 --> 00:23:58,720
in games, you know. I got to step up, be
708
00:23:56,480 --> 00:24:00,080
a leader, too, to my team. As I've been
709
00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:01,520
a freshman, you know, and learning from
710
00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,760
like the sophomores and everything, I do
711
00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:06,159
know that it's going to shape me and
712
00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:07,120
I'll be a leader next season for sure.
713
00:24:06,159 --> 00:24:08,559
100%.
714
00:24:07,120 --> 00:24:09,840
Hey, you got that dog in you. Next
715
00:24:08,559 --> 00:24:11,279
season's going to be way better.
716
00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:12,799
Oh, yeah. Definitely.
717
00:24:11,279 --> 00:24:15,200
Got to keep that positivity up, that
718
00:24:12,799 --> 00:24:16,960
PMA, that positive mental attitude.
719
00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:19,760
Yes. Yes.
720
00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:22,080
And for you, McKenzie, who I guess are
721
00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:24,400
returning to HCC but aren't eligible to
722
00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:27,360
play, what words of advice would you
723
00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:30,799
like to share with next year's team?
724
00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:33,440
Just work hard, stay hungry. It's going
725
00:24:30,799 --> 00:24:34,640
to be really hard at first, and you're
726
00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,159
going to want to sit down, and you're
727
00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:39,039
going to want to cry, and you're going
728
00:24:36,159 --> 00:24:42,400
to want to give up, but it's all worth
729
00:24:39,039 --> 00:24:44,000
it. You're going to hate that you went
730
00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:45,679
through that, but you're gonna love how
731
00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:48,400
you are afterwards. Yeah.
732
00:24:45,679 --> 00:24:50,320
Especially all the um stamina building
733
00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:52,762
and endurance. That's what I more or
734
00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:52,880
less mean. Like you're going to suffer.
735
00:24:52,762 --> 00:24:53,520
[laughter]
736
00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:55,440
Yeah.
737
00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:58,320
Plain out and simple. You're going to
738
00:24:55,440 --> 00:25:00,159
suffer, but it's going to be so worth it
739
00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:02,640
because then you can finally run with
740
00:25:00,159 --> 00:25:05,279
your team. Yeah. Just work hard. Have
741
00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:09,200
the dog in you. You are your own
742
00:25:05,279 --> 00:25:12,400
independent person. Don't try to mold
743
00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:14,720
yourself into the perfect shooter, the
744
00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:18,000
perfect dribbler. Know what you're good
745
00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:19,840
at, perfect it, and then after you think
746
00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:22,960
you perfected it, do more because
747
00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:24,480
there's always more. Don't try to be
748
00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:26,799
something else.
749
00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:29,039
I love that. No, great answer.
750
00:25:26,799 --> 00:25:30,799
Know your role, perfect it, continue to
751
00:25:29,039 --> 00:25:32,799
get better. I dig.
752
00:25:30,799 --> 00:25:34,799
So, let's give some shoutouts here. Who
753
00:25:32,799 --> 00:25:36,799
would you say on the team brought the
754
00:25:34,799 --> 00:25:39,120
most energy?
755
00:25:36,799 --> 00:25:41,840
Savannah. [laughter]
756
00:25:39,120 --> 00:25:43,852
She always comes in in the locker room.
757
00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:44,960
Hey guys,
758
00:25:43,852 --> 00:25:46,400
[laughter and gasps]
759
00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:48,000
I definitely do think I do bring the
760
00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:49,840
energy. I'm not going to lie. I do. I
761
00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:52,000
would say myself just because everybody
762
00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:53,840
knows like I'm very loud, you know, I'm
763
00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,120
very energetic. I'm always like willing
764
00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,400
to be there, you know, even if
765
00:25:55,120 --> 00:25:58,000
something's like going wrong the day.
766
00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:59,760
Like I'm most I'm still here like ready
767
00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:01,200
to like make my teammates laugh and
768
00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:02,799
everything. So I do think I bring the
769
00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:04,480
most energy. Okay. Well, that's my
770
00:26:02,799 --> 00:26:07,360
follow-up question. Who do you think's
771
00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:10,799
the funniest player on the team?
772
00:26:07,360 --> 00:26:12,880
You know what? I would lowkey say Emma.
773
00:26:10,799 --> 00:26:14,880
She's hilarious. Like, she don't know
774
00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:16,480
what she's talking about half the time.
775
00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:18,240
Her her and Avery don't know what
776
00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:20,720
they're talking about half the time, but
777
00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:22,799
Emma is just she's got that young
778
00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:27,120
goofiness.
779
00:26:22,799 --> 00:26:31,200
And finally, what does being an HCC
780
00:26:27,120 --> 00:26:33,039
dragon mean to you? Being a dragon means
781
00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:35,440
a lot to me. Like I feel like it's not
782
00:26:33,039 --> 00:26:37,919
just one thing. It means having a whole
783
00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:39,440
community behind you and they're always
784
00:26:37,919 --> 00:26:41,679
going to give you that motivational
785
00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:44,400
boost you need. Being a dragon, I don't
786
00:26:41,679 --> 00:26:46,559
think I get this anywhere else honestly.
787
00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:48,000
Um the environment is great, you know,
788
00:26:46,559 --> 00:26:49,200
and I'm just really happy to be a
789
00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:51,279
dragon, you know.
790
00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:53,760
Yeah. I honestly I'm going to go off
791
00:26:51,279 --> 00:26:55,520
that because that's I was struggling for
792
00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:58,799
the words and you found them for me.
793
00:26:55,520 --> 00:27:00,799
It's definitely a big community and it's
794
00:26:58,799 --> 00:27:02,960
really nice because whenever you're
795
00:27:00,799 --> 00:27:05,120
struggling or anything academically,
796
00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:07,600
mentally, family-wise, they were always
797
00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:10,799
there for you. There was no doubt there
798
00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:11,279
was just pure like unconditional love.
799
00:27:10,799 --> 00:27:13,039
Yes.
800
00:27:11,279 --> 00:27:15,120
It's awesome. The really good thing
801
00:27:13,039 --> 00:27:16,720
about the HCC Dragons is that they
802
00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:19,120
paired us with the Silus Craft
803
00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:20,559
community. And you know, the first year
804
00:27:19,120 --> 00:27:22,320
being the Silus craft, I didn't really
805
00:27:20,559 --> 00:27:25,120
get the point of them. But being a
806
00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:28,653
second year and really diving into what
807
00:27:25,120 --> 00:27:29,200
the Silus craft program has to offer,
808
00:27:28,653 --> 00:27:32,640
[gasps]
809
00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:34,320
I'm really glad that the HCC women's
810
00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:36,880
basketball team connected with them
811
00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:39,279
because they adore us.
812
00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:41,520
They are they want us to be successful.
813
00:27:39,279 --> 00:27:45,120
They want us, you know, to give us those
814
00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:48,400
resources in order to be successful. and
815
00:27:45,120 --> 00:27:50,240
being a secondyear dragon and really
816
00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:52,640
using those resources that they've given
817
00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:54,720
us. Especially Silus Craft, they will
818
00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:56,640
provide you with whatever you need. It's
819
00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:59,200
really nice to have because usually I
820
00:27:56,640 --> 00:28:02,159
feel like in a college you don't have
821
00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:03,440
that kind of community and or at least
822
00:28:02,159 --> 00:28:05,039
I've never experienced that kind of
823
00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:07,200
community before even in high school or
824
00:28:05,039 --> 00:28:11,120
anything. So, it's a really awesome to
825
00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:13,440
have cherry on top. Ladies, thank you so
826
00:28:11,120 --> 00:28:16,080
much for coming inside the Dragons Layer
827
00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:18,960
today. On behalf of myself and everybody
828
00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:20,559
here at Dragon Podcast. Really excited
829
00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:22,960
for what you all have accomplished and
830
00:28:20,559 --> 00:28:25,360
will accomplish in the future. So, way
831
00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:27,120
to go. Thank you for coming on the show.
832
00:28:25,360 --> 00:28:28,320
Looking forward to see what you all got
833
00:28:27,120 --> 00:28:31,320
in the tank.
834
00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:31,320
Yes.
835
00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:36,880
McKenzie Savannah, thank you both so
836
00:28:34,559 --> 00:28:39,440
much for taking the time to join me on
837
00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:42,720
the show and reflect on your season with
838
00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:44,960
us. We recognize the heart you and your
839
00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:47,200
team brought to the court each and every
840
00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:49,600
day and truly appreciate you
841
00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:51,840
representing Dragon Athletics in such an
842
00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:54,799
impressive way.
843
00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:57,039
As this episode draws to a close, the
844
00:28:54,799 --> 00:28:59,679
stories we heard remind us that success
845
00:28:57,039 --> 00:29:03,039
in sports is about more than just wins
846
00:28:59,679 --> 00:29:05,919
and losses. It's about resilience,
847
00:29:03,039 --> 00:29:09,440
teamwork, and the community that brings
848
00:29:05,919 --> 00:29:12,880
it all together. Our goal every episode
849
00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:15,760
remains the same, to inform, entertain,
850
00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:19,919
and celebrate the athletes, coaches, and
851
00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:22,240
stories that make HCC athletics special.
852
00:29:19,919 --> 00:29:25,760
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to
853
00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:28,000
subscribe, share, and stay connected. We
854
00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:29,760
have so much more to check out in terms
855
00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:31,919
of podcasts.
856
00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:34,720
You can find Inside the Dragon's Layer
857
00:29:31,919 --> 00:29:38,640
and all our other shows on Spotify,
858
00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:42,159
Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Podbean.
859
00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:44,399
Just search Dragon Podcasts. And don't
860
00:29:42,159 --> 00:29:46,559
forget to follow HCC Athletics and
861
00:29:44,399 --> 00:29:48,960
Dragon podcasts on our social media
862
00:29:46,559 --> 00:29:51,120
pages for more updates and behind
863
00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:53,919
thecenes coverage.
864
00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:56,559
As always, thank you for tuning in.
865
00:29:53,919 --> 00:30:01,240
We'll see you next time right here
866
00:29:56,559 --> 00:30:01,240
inside the Dragons Layer.
