The Bishop Ireton girl’s basketball team is off to an impressive start so far in the 2014-2015 basketball season. The Cardinals already have three wins in the competitive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, including wins over Archbishop Carroll and Holy Cross. This is already a major improvement from the previous season which saw the Cardinals go winless in conference play. Numerous factors have lead to this success, such as new Head Coach Jason Harris, who has brought a new culture to the team, and the leadership of several seniors. First year varsity player and Junior Maggie Loher agrees that a major part of their team’s success is the strong bond the team has on and off the court. When asked about the team this year Loher replied, “Our team was able to bond more this year than previous years because of the addition of our new coach and the new culture he brought, which gave us more chemistry on the court.” Loher also commented that even though it was her first year on the varsity team, she felt welcomed right away.“Coach Harris is trying to build a new program and change the way people look at Ireton basketball,” Loher continues. The bonds formed this season with the team have paved the way for the team to succeed. Senior Alex Stipano, has contributed significantly this season, leading the team in scoring and becoming the offensive threat that the Cardinals needed. Stipano, who was recently named Alexandria Sportsman’s Club Female Athlete of the Month, leads the Washington metropolitan area in three point field goals with a total of 64 this year. For comparison, the next best total for three point field goals in the area is just 45. Stipano has also one of the best free throw percentages in the conferences as well. The 2014-2015 new look Cardinals have been able to compete in every game this season, which is a major improvement from the team they were just a year ago. The Cardinals currently have a 12-11 record, and are poised for success as they continue their season.
