By Stacy Martin, Head Coach

Led by captains Quinn Orgain, Frances Hodson, and Kavitha Kasturi, the 2023–2024 Rowland Hall girls basketball team began their season in November against ICS, and ended it playing the ICS Lions at our final state tournament game in mid-February. 

Thankfully, Bea Wall returned to the team for her senior year, providing us with her ball handling, quickness, and scoring abilities. She was also named to the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) Academic All-Region and Academic All-State teams. Quinn Orgain, our only other senior, was named to the Region 17 All-Region Team, an honor she earned for her offensive and defensive contributions throughout the season.

Our junior class was dedicated and hardworking, and given we only had two seniors, they all stepped up to fill leadership roles. Unfortunately, Lily Jaffe and Kavitha Kasturi both had their season disrupted by injuries, though both came back to finish the season on a strong note. Frances Hodson once again led the team from the point guard position, showcasing her natural leadership skills in that role. Abby Downs found her stroke towards the end of the season, hitting shots and finding her 3-point range. Phoebe LaBelle had a strong year on the junior varsity (JV) team, contributing to the team with her aggressive play.

We were fortunate to have an outstanding ninth-grade class filled with talented athletes whose skills translated well onto the basketball court. Lila Bates was the leading scorer for the JV team, her season highlight coming at American Heritage where she hit a buzzer beating half-court shot! She also contributed to every varsity game. Alexa Tracey came on strong and filled the void left on the varsity team due to teammate injuries. Despite never having played basketball prior to this year, she not only stepped up, but earned a spot in the starting lineup. Halle Peterson and Meg Hoglund both brought their lacrosse skills to the basketball court, showcasing their athletic talents throughout the season. Emery Lieberman brought her intellect to the court, learning the new sport quickly. Ari Ali and Elle Prasthofer were the players the coaches could turn to, as they filled many roles on and off the court, each contributing to the team in their own way.

Assistant coaches Kelly Peterson and Quincy Jackson and I were excited with what we saw from the team during the season and felt it to be a success, with all players working hard and improving their skills on a daily basis. Most importantly, they all got to experience representing their school, being part of a team, and making new friendships.

We were honored to recognize several players with special awards at our end-of-season celebration, including Frances Hodson, Most Valuable Player; Quinn Orgain, Defensive MVP; Bea Wall, Offensive MVP; Alexa Tracey, Most Improved; and Abby Downs, Coaches’ Award.

With a lot of talent and potential returning to the court next year, the coaching staff is looking forward to the 2024–2025 season!