WEB EXCLUSIVE The varsity basketball team is set to play its first league game of the 2018 season against Lick-Wilmerding High School at 5:30 p.m. in the Herbert Center this afternoon.

The team of 12 currently has three wins and seven losses from preseason. The team is less concerned with winning and more focused on being a team made up of support, according to team member junior Kiki Apple.

“We have this thing this year that we call ‘a team of love and support,’” Apple said. “We knew we were not going to be the strongest this year, so we are aiming to love and support each other through the season.”

The team won the consolation game at its latest tournament in Redding this past weekend, which boosted its confidence, according to freshman Cecelia McQuaid.

“We were losing a bunch but we got it together in the recent tournament and played really well,” McQuaid said. “I think that we bonded a lot which helped and  we also got more aggressive and rebounded more.”

In addition to the technical pieces of basketball and bonding, determination has been something that is helping the team become stronger, according to Apple.

“We have to convince ourselves that we’re good enough and remember that we may not have the best skill or talent, but we sure have determination and hardwork,” Apple said. “That may sound like we are hopeless but the determination piece is really important.”

The varsity team has completed preseason and has 10 more games going into February and possibly March.

“We have no idea what’s going to happen this year,” Apple said. “We’re trying not to be intimidated, but hopefully we will do really well.”

The team will play next on Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. against The Urban School.