Lady Artichokes excel in athletics, academics

“Competition is beatable, unless we don’t play like a team than we won’t be successful. I expect us to go to St. Louis, IL for nationals,” said freshman post Jazzime Avriett.

 

The 2010 women’s SCC basketball team consists of nine freshmen and four sophomores. The team has a strong bond but Avriett says the basketball team could improve more on team bonding and attitudes.

 

"Improve on attitudes,” said Avriett. Adding, “Being more energetic, playing as a team on the court and being more unselfish. Its not so much as teammates; its us we have to work on.”

 

Though the women’s basketball team faces struggles like any other team, the Artichokes find time to have fun off the court.

 

“Hang out at Olive Garden -there’s a lot of team bonding after Saturday games,” said Avriett.

 

Its not only fun and games for the Artichokes. Athletes have to maintain a certain grade point average to play basketball for Scottsdale.

 

“Represent Scottsdale well by having a good team and good grades,” says head coach Bike Medder. He says he’s always talking to his athletes about academics.

 

"Bring it (GPA) up,” women’s Basketball head coach Bike Medder said.

 

According to Medder, academics are crucial to maintain while on the women’s basketball team but the team is surpassing with flying colors. The basketball team’s grade point average is between 2.0 and 3.6 and the team has no intention of letting grades drop.

 

"It’s a challenge, but we work hard to keep it up,” says Avriett referring to achieving academically.

 

Medder is there to support his team when it comes to basketball and academics.

 

“He’s a busy body, but he always says ‘come in here to talk to me even though I’m a man,’” says Aviriett laughing.

 

It’s evident that whatever Medder is doing with his team, it’s working. The team is succeeding by obtaining a good GPA and winning basketball games.