The West Shore High School girls basketball team has won five straight games since late January, climbing to a 12-2 record in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 6A-7A District 10. The team’s recent victories include a 62-55 win over Satellite High School on February 1 and a 58-49 upset over Ridge High School on February 8. Coaches and players attribute the success to improved defense and a deeper bench.
Head coach Lisa Martinez said the team’s focus on fundamentals has made a difference. “We’ve spent extra time on rebounding and transition defense,” she said during a practice last week. “The girls are buying into the system.” The team’s home games at West Shore’s gymnasium in Melbourne have drawn crowds of over 200 fans, with students and parents cheering from the bleachers.
Key players like senior guard Emily Carter and junior forward Sarah Lopez have led the charge. Carter, who averages 18 points per game, scored a career-high 32 points in a February 15 win against Eau Gallie High School. Lopez, a 6-foot-2 center, has pulled down 15 rebounds in three of her last four games. “We trust each other,” Lopez said after the Ridge game. “When one of us struggles, the others step up.”
The team’s success has put West Shore in a strong position for a playoff berth. With three regular-season games remaining, the team is currently ranked No. 4 in the district. Martinez said the focus now is on maintaining consistency. “We’ve got a tough schedule ahead, but we’re not looking past anyone,” she said. The next game is scheduled for February 22 against Palm Bay High School.