I had the privilege to talk with Sophomore Olivia White. She is basketball player here at HSE High School and has been working very hard to improve her game during the COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s see what she had to say about the questions I had for her.

Q: Why did you start playing basketball and, if anyone, who inspired you?

A: I started playing basketball when I was 3 years old. At the time, I was in numerous other sports as well. As I got older, I found myself falling in love with basketball and it’s stuck with me ever since.

Q: What is it like playing basketball at HSE High School?

A: Playing at HSE is an honor. I am blessed to have an amazing coaching staff, group of girls and managers. Not all schools are lucky to have such a great program like we do at HSE. We have a standard here in our girls basketball program. When we walk in that gym, we are working to be the best players we can be. We set the standards high, and it’s start with doing the little things, defense, boxing out etc.

Q: How do you warm up for a game (Any pre-game rituals you may have as well)?

A: One of the things I do before every game is, I have a massage gun that I will use on my legs along with a massage roller, to avoid pulling any muscles or being sore before my games.

Q: What would you say to someone who is on the fence about trying out for the team?

A: Like I’ve already mentioned, If you want to try out for the HSE girls’ basketball team, we have a standard as soon as you walk through that gym. We have a job to take care of each and every day, and that job is to do what WE do as a team. We strive for perfection and excellence here, and its starts by setting the standards high. We are big on doing the little things, such as, giving  your best effort ALWAYS, screening, defense, boxing out, being in the correct gaps on defense etc. Practices are not easy, but it’s only going to make the game feel a lot easier.

Story by Eric Bedrosian.