The MSHS Girls Basketball team is looking to get back into the 4A state playoffs this year. The team will start practice on Nov. 18 and the first game of the season is against Peyton High School on Dec. 3.

The Mustangs have a new basketball coach this year, Gabby Santos; however, this is not her first year as she has been the JV coach for the past three years. 

Brooklynn Sheffield (11) has hope for the upcoming season and her new coach. “I think it’s going to be a learning experience for both players and for Gabby,” Sheffield said, “but I think she can figure it out, and I’m excited.” 

Although the Mustangs lost four seniors last year and only have one senior playing this year, they have some experience from many players that can play in leadership roles. “It’s a young team: we have one senior. We’ve got three girls who had key roles on varsity last year, and one or two more who contributed and on that varsity level; so we are really leaning into those folks,” Santos said, “leadership comes from that experience, that desire and the ability to put the team before yourself, to buckle down and get everybody on the same page.” 

The lone senior on the roster this year, Annika Kuzbek, believes that she can fill into a leadership position. “I can help everyone get to know the plays because I’ve been playing all four years.  I like helping everyone out when they don’t know what’s happening,” Kuzbek said, “just showing how the program goes and how the coaches usually run it when it comes to team morale and game day routines.” 

Sheffield also thinks that she can provide leadership to the team. “I think I can be that voice on the court, narrating and helping people,” Sheffield said, “instead of yelling at them, focus on bringing people up.”

The girl’s team knows each game is important; however, some just mean more. “Woodland Park is always fun because it’s a rivalry game,” Sheffield said.

Kuzbek agrees with Sheffield about the game against Woodland Park. “Woodland Park is our rival, and we beat them last year by one point,” Kuzbek said. “So, hopefully, we can do that again.”

While players are excited for the rivalry games, Santos is looking forward to the yearly University Tournament. “There are teams that are going to be top eight in 4A and teams who are not going to have state contention potential,” Santos said, “so you get to see this huge range of what Colorado basketball looks like right now in three days.”

Santos is excited for her first year as a head coach and building the team. “This year we have a young team, and with that, we have this base to decide what our values are,” Santos said, “we are looking to build a solid foundation for this year to find success in the future.”