TULARE, Calif. (KSEE) – Sometimes being a good teammate means knowing when to pass the ball, and at Mission Oak High School, the girls basketball team is showing the South Valley that the best assists often don’t show up in a player’s stats.
Basketball is loud, fast, and built on hard work and teamwork.
”Our group right now, we’re together, like we’re glue,” said Mission Oak Girls Basketball player Kaecyn Henderson.
And for the Mission Oak girls basketball program, the hard work doesn’t stop when the buzzer sounds. Over the summer, these players traded their practice schedule for whistles and clipboards, coaching young basketball players through a partnership with the police activities league.
“ It is important because social media portrays cops in certain ways: good, bad. And it’s nice to see there’s this kind of level of support in the community our sheriff department shows,” Henderson said.
On the court, they taught dribbling and defense. Off the court, they taught patience, sportsmanship, and how to be part of a team. All with the hope of winning over a younger generation to the power of sports.
”Like maybe it’s their first year playing basketball, and then I have that impact on them and I make it fun for them, and they wanna play in the future,” said teammate Braelyn Serpa.
The experience brought the team closer and made their own chemistry stronger. And their coach says they’re stronger for it.
”It, you know, they, they, they see how they’re affecting these kids and, and the impact they’re having and, and the kids are impacting them as well,” said Coach Dave Caetano.
The girls refereed games got down to the kids’ level and played against them on their knees and learned what it means to lead without being the star.
”It’s real life. It, you know, they, they, they see how they’re affecting these kids and, and the impact they’re having,” said Caetano.
For the younger players, it’s a chance to see what’s possible. For the team, it’s a reminder that basketball is at its best when it’s shared. Because the true measure of a team isn’t just how they play together, it’s how much they give back.
So a big congratulations to all the athletes on the Mission Oak girls’ basketball team.
