Written By: Sahana Bhat

The Rye Country Day School Girls Varsity Basketball (GVBB) team kicked-off its season with a strong performance. They hold a 6-1 winning record and a well-earned Championship win at the Columbia Prep Tournament. All three senior co-captains of GVBB, Claire Jiang ‘26, Mei Macintyre ‘26, and Sahar Harris ‘26, echo similar sentiments on why they feel confident and expect to build on this solid momentum. When asked what was serving the team well, Jiang, a returning captain, highlights “playing unselfishly by moving the ball around on the court and supporting each other from the sidelines.” Macintyre ascribes their success to “staying focused, communicating on the court, and trusting each other.” Harris calls out the “team’s resilience and hard work.” They all agree that GVBB’s game against Hopkins mid-December exemplified the team’s energy, effort, and chemistry and was one of the “super hype” comeback games of the varsity program. Down eleven points, the tenacious team came back in just around two minutes and went on to win the game by five points.

The team has high goals for the rest of their season. Macintyre is excited to “continue to improve every game, stay disciplined, and compete to make a serious run in the NYSAIS.” Harris emphasizes “connection and confidence building,” given the new players who have joined the team this season. Jiang suggests specific areas for improvement including “making more layups, converting more free throws, and further limiting turnovers. All while having fun.”

As they lead through their last season, the senior co-captains reflected on their key learnings that they would like to share with their teammates. Harris hopes that the team will remember, “we have been the most successful when we all bring maximum energy to the court, keeping us locked in, and ready to play.” Jiang would like to see the team connected, bonded, and welcoming of newcomers because “the opportunity to spend time with people who are like a second family after school is truly amazing.” Macintyre’s advice to her teammates returning next year is to “stay committed, never take any season for granted, and always value the relationships you build through the program.” We can’t wait to cheer on GVBB’s continued achievements this season.