On Dec. 2 2013, guided study hall teacher and girls basketball coach John Sloop, along with the rest of the girls basketball team and fans, celebrated their first win of the season against Parkway North. This was the first game the athletes played of their 2013-14 season and the first time a Parkway West varsity girls team beat North in Sloop’s time as a coach at West.

“My favorite part of the whole coaching experience is getting the opportunity to work with the kids and watch them improve as individuals and as a group throughout the season and watching veteran players that have come back year after year improve and grow as well,” Sloop said.

Since their victory, the six seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and one freshman that compose the varsity team have continued to work on not only their individual skills, but their strategies as a team as well. Their current standings since the beginning of the season are five wins and five losses.

“We just want to continue to improve on a daily basis. I hope we will be playing our best at the end of the season,” Sloop said. “The more experience and time spent together, the better the team becomes and plays together.”

Along with practicing together on the court, the varsity girls team participates in many off-court bonding activities to improve both coordination and cooperation. Some activities include going out to eat, watching the varsity boys basketball games and having team sleepovers.

“We go out to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings all the time after practice,” senior Savannah Fillion said. “Constantly being together even outside of practice and games helps us work better together on the court. Seeing a bunch of different sides of all our teammates has helped us become closer as not only teammates, but friends as well.”

The varsity team is seeking to continue this success into their game against University City on Friday, Jan. 25., and they hope to do well in districts later on this season.