On Sept. 19, Olathe West girls basketball began their fall league games, marking the beginning of their training for the 2021-2022 season following their third place tie finish in the 6A state tournament last year. 

Junior Asees Kang discussed how fall league helps their team prepare for their official season. 

“It shows how the team is going to work together. And how you play with some of the people you might not play with during the regular season,” Kang said.

One of the disadvantages of fall league is that coaches are only allowed to attend the games as spectators. However, the group has used this as an opportunity to work on teamwork and leadership skills. 

“I think it helps us work together as a team and focus on helping to coach each other,” sophomore Emma Thomas said.

This also gives the seniors an opportunity to step up into a leadership role. Emma Thomas describes how the seniors have helped her freshman year and into her sophomore year. 

“Sometimes we’ve had the seniors draw it up on a board and explain,” Thomas said. “As a freshman last year, it was hard to learn like all the new plays, but eventually you’ll get it and the seniors are really helpful.”

Some players also participate in other activities since basketball isn’t traditionally a fall sport, but they are able to manage playing multiple sports at once. 

“If you have a game at the same time you, either go to fall league or you don’t you just go to your club game,” Kang said. “But it’s like really on the rare occasion that they’re both on the same time.” 

Fall league is a good time for the team to get to know one another and see how the season will go. 

“It helps us work together as a team,” Thomas said. “And helps us focus on helping each other.”