After a heartbreaking loss in the 2014 state championship game the Urbana girls’ basketball team was ready to bounce back and make another run at history in 2015. However, all plans to win a state championship that year skidded to a halt after a devastating loss to Frederick in the playoffs. The Hawks then lost superstar Kendall Bresee as she graduated and went on to play basketball at George Washington University.

Without Bresee the Hawks sputtered to a losing record in what turned out to be an ugly 2016 season. While the future of the girls’ basketball team is uncertain there is a light at the end of the tunnel. With young and talented players like junior shooting guard Kendal Haggerty and sophomore point guard Hannah Orens, the Hawks could be ready for a comeback year in 2017.

Haggerty knows that if change is to happen within the team she’s going to be the one who has to start it. Haggerty admitted that she needs to be a better leader this year and that she needs to lead by example and be respectful of her teammates both on and off the court.

A goal that Haggerty has for the team is to end at .500 on the year. She believes that this is a goal that can be achieved if everyone works together. Haggerty also has a few goals that she herself wants to accomplish this year.

Haggerty said, “I want to be the highest scorer and I want to score 50 points in a game.”

Scoring 50 points in one game would certainly be beneficial to the Hawks, and would solidify Haggerty’s status as one of the best scorers, if not best basketball players in Urbana’s history.

Not only was Haggerty a varsity player as a freshman and sophomore, but she dominated on the court. She credits some of her success to her love of basketball.

Haggerty said, “I love the competitiveness and passion you need to play the game of basketball and it’s something that I excel at.”

The second half to Urbana’s success this year is Orens, who already has a year of varsity experience under her belt.

Much like Haggerty, Orens knows that if the team is to get better her play will be a big part of it. Her biggest personal goal is to protect the ball better.

Orens said, “Personally I would like to average less turnovers, average more assists than points, help my team out in any way that I can, and to work really hard on defense.”

For Orens to achieve these goals it will not only be important to work hard in practice but she must put in work outside…(To read the rest of this story, pick up a copy of The Hawkeye from the newsstand near the front office or the media center)