Xavier seniors reflect on basketball careers

CEDAR RAPIDS — As the Xavier girls' basketball season approaches the beginning of the end, the Saints took a night to recognize their seniors who have helped lead their team the past four years.

Senior night was held on Feb. 5 in Ron Thillen Gymnasium. Xavier celebrated the careers of five seniors this year — McKenna Andersen, Brylee Bastian, Jenny Dickes, Meghan Joens and Maddie Kadlec.

'Being a senior leader is a bittersweet feeling,' Bastian said. 'I always wished to be in the shoes I am in now and now that I am in them, I wonder where the time went.'

The Saints have the possibility of playing five postseason games to continue their season.

'It feels great to finally be a senior because we get to lead the team, and I couldn't ask for a better group of people,' Kadlec said.

Every senior has played basketball all four years during their high school careers. Although the season is soon coming to an end, the seniors have a positive outlook on what has happened in the past.

'Just have fun,' Bastian said. 'Wins and losses aren't everything, as long as you can look back and say that you worked your hardest and had fun doing it.'

The seniors have led their team through a season full of ups and downs, but they continue to stay together.

'My favorite memory was sophomore year when we played Linn-Mar and beat them in overtime,' Kadlec said.

Xavier basketball has supplied these seniors, and the rest of the team, with the ability to work with each other and make many memories.

The Saints host Vinton-Shellsburg in a first-round Class 4A regional game Wednesday, starting at 7 p.m.