brad.spiegel@waylandpost.org
The 2024-25 girls’ basketball season was not the easiest for Sarah Powers.
That doesn’t mean she got down on herself or the team, or wasn’t able to take some positives out of the experience. Powers, one of the senior tri-captains on this season’s Warriors, used the 4-16 campaign to learn how to be a leader — both on and off the court.
The result has been a turnaround of gigantic proportions for the team, with an 8-5 record. And as a second-year captain, Powers has been a leader, both vocally and by her results on the court, for a young squad that hadn’t experienced success prior to the past couple months.
“Looking back at last year, I wouldn’t wish for anything different,” said Powers, who got called up as a freshman for the 17-4 Warriors who made it to the Round of 16 in the Division 2 tournament. “I liked the coach and the players, and even though we lost a lot, I always have fun playing this game.”
She admitted that, as a junior, it was not easy to try to lead seniors. And not being a loud or boisterous person certainly didn’t help. But she picked her spots and led by example. And now she has her fingerprints all over this team.
From organized captains’ practices prior to the start of the season, and team meals during the season, to integrating and befriending the five freshmen, she’s very comfortable in the position. She said she also finds herself speaking up during games on the court and in huddles.
“I now know what to say when we need it,” she said. “I find myself speaking more at halftime to identify what the team needs to do because I did it a little last year.”
She even manages Almost Game Day, the team’s Instagram account that highlights bloopers from past games or funny videos to lighten the mood. It seems to be very popular with the team and students at WHS.
First-year Tim Glavin, who knew Powers way back in middle school, has seen tremendous growth since last year when he was the assistant varsity coach.
“Sarah has had to balance a lot with captains’ practices, working with a young team and having another new coach,” said Glavin, who noted that this is Powers’s third coach in the last three seasons. ”She is definitely a lot more comfortable this year.”
Having a year under her belt helped, but playing another season with two of her best friends — co-captains Riley O’Driscoll and Eliza Russell — and her sister, sophomore Campbell, has translated to improved play and comfort on the court.
While her team-leading scoring average of a little more than 11 points per game is only three points more than last season, the wing player is seeing the floor better and has perfected her floater, her bread-and-butter shot.
Her defense is also standing out with more than 1.5 steals per game. At 5 feet 9 inches with long arms, she can guard any player on the court.
“Sarah came into the season ready to go,” Glavin said. “She’s willing to play defense against anyone we play. That was not something I had expected before the season started.”
Powers also credits her mother, Daisy, who coached her for many years growing up.
As far as team expectations, Powers said she was just looking to have fun this year with her good friends and sister. But having doubled last year’s wins in the first half of the season has changed expectations and goals.
“I just expect to prioritize having fun and not worry about our record necessarily,” she said. “I worked on myself and my game so I wouldn’t have any regrets when I stopped playing.
“After the first seven games or so (6-1 record), the coach came up to us and said we have a chance — ‘let’s make the playoffs.’ It didn’t even cross my mind. Now it’s a possibility, which is great.”
