Xavier basketball blends freshmen with sophomores

CEDAR RAPIDS - Nine sophomores, four freshmen, one team.

This is the first year the 13 girls have played on the same team. In preparation for the season, they participated in a summer league and continued workouts together into the fall.

Some would think this might be a challenge for sophomores and freshmen to play on the same team, but sophomore Ella Daubitz finds this as an opportunity to be a leader and guide the younger players through their basketball season.

'My goal is that the freshmen and sophomores bond as one team and excel to victory,” Daubitz said.

Freshman Emily Jasper said Daubitz is a leader for all of the freshmen.

'It is more challenging,” Jasper said of playing on the sophomore team. 'Practices are harder and more intense but they are also more fun.”

The pressure for some freshmen playing sophomore basketball can be overwhelming, but Jasper handles the pressure by working hard.

The Saints are 10-6 overall and tied for the Mississippi Division lead at 5-4. The barrier between sophomores and freshmen no longer exists for the sophomore basketball team.

The girls are not two different grades or 13 different players. They are one team.