Maintaining success with lots of roster turnover is difficult. The Rice girls basketball team will look to defy the odds in 2022-2023, after graduating six players and losing two more after a 19-1 season that ended in a state championship. But this year’s edition of the Green Knights is confident. Behind leaders and captains Elyse McDonough, Cassie Beste, and Kelli Cieplicki, the new regime is putting an emphasis on team chemistry.”We show up every day and we work hard,” said junior forward Kelli Cieplicki. “I know it sounds corny but we’re here. We’re on each other. We’re benefiting from one another. It’s just like a family here.”A family that won’t be at full strength until at least February. Beste is currently rehabbing a torn ACL she had surgically repaired in April. Her hope is to be back with the green and white by the end of the regular season.”Just being told that I have the potential to get back really motivated me,” said Beste. “Being able to practice and just play basketball again is unbelievable because I thought I would never do it again.”While Beste isn’t able to help the team on the court with her lights-out shooting, she’s making herself useful in other areas, including coaching up the team on the bench.”I try my best to keep the team together,” Beste said. “I hear both sides from the bench and the people playing. helping connect our new players with our players who are older.”Injuries are a part of every team’s season. But head coach Aurie Thibault believes with enough buy-in, the team will be able to overcome any obstacle in their way.”It always comes back to teamwork,” said Thibault. “It’s a team that buys in, we all have the same goals, we all believe in the same thing… and that’s what makes a champion.”
Maintaining success with lots of roster turnover is difficult. The Rice girls basketball team will look to defy the odds in 2022-2023, after graduating six players and losing two more after a 19-1 season that ended in a state championship.
But this year’s edition of the Green Knights is confident. Behind leaders and captains Elyse McDonough, Cassie Beste, and Kelli Cieplicki, the new regime is putting an emphasis on team chemistry.
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“We show up every day and we work hard,” said junior forward Kelli Cieplicki. “I know it sounds corny but we’re here. We’re on each other. We’re benefiting from one another. It’s just like a family here.”
A family that won’t be at full strength until at least February. Beste is currently rehabbing a torn ACL she had surgically repaired in April. Her hope is to be back with the green and white by the end of the regular season.
“Just being told that I have the potential to get back really motivated me,” said Beste. “Being able to practice and just play basketball again is unbelievable because I thought I would never do it again.”
While Beste isn’t able to help the team on the court with her lights-out shooting, she’s making herself useful in other areas, including coaching up the team on the bench.
“I try my best to keep the team together,” Beste said. “I hear both sides from the bench and the people playing. helping connect our new players with our players who are older.”
Injuries are a part of every team’s season. But head coach Aurie Thibault believes with enough buy-in, the team will be able to overcome any obstacle in their way.
“It always comes back to teamwork,” said Thibault. “It’s a team that buys in, we all have the same goals, we all believe in the same thing… and that’s what makes a champion.”
