The varsity girls’ basketball team has played about three to four games, but does not go against their record. The team is 0-1 due to the loss to Ripon High School on Dec. 3.

Coach Derek Solano is proud of how his girls are playing. Solano’s goals for the pre-season are to be competitive.

“I want to prepare the girls for our league rival Lincoln, so that we can win the league title this season,” Solano said.

One of key players who is doing well is sophomore Jazmyn Gonzalez. Gonzalez made the sophomore team last year as a freshman.

Gonzalez was excited when she made the varsity team. Her team are to help make her teammates better and make the playoffs. Her personal goals are to get better at her shooting and boost her shooting percentage.

For Gonzalez, it was big transition going from the sophomore team to the varsity level.

“Most of all the girls are way taller than me. I am only 5- foot tall,” Gonzalez said. “The plays are also difficult. We have over 25 different plays that we have to remember.”

Gonzalez teammate, Haleigh Vineyard, thinks Gonzalez is a strong player.

“The girl is only five foot tall,” Vineyard said. “She goes up against girls that are almost a foot taller than her.”

The varsity team will be in the Stonebarger Tournament in Brentwood on Dec. 12-14. Their first game they play Richmond High School at 5 p.m.

After the Stonebarger Tournament, the team has two more.

The girls’ basketball team will be traveling to Napa Valley to play good teams.

Every year, the varsity team spends the night in Napa. Solano loves attending this because the tournament is well run.

“I think that the Napa Tourney helps bring my team closer together, and it gives the girls bonds with one another,” Solano said. “Spending the night gets the girls to become sisters and friends, so that they can play well on the court.”

The girls’ will play Liberty High School in the first game in Napa.

The last tournament the varsity team attends is the Tom Hawkins/ Tracy Breakfast Lions Tournament. What is special about this tournament is Tracy hosts it at Tracy High and West High on Dec. 26-30. Their first game is against Johansson High School on Dec 26.

Solano loves having this this tournament because it is a Tracy tradition. He said that the tournament brings in a lot quality teams.

With these three tournaments the girls possible have 10 games within 20 days.

“I am going to let the girls’ know that the next three weeks are going to be grueling,” Solano said.

Solano is trying to fix the team’s weaknesses, which is trying to get the team to mesh well together.

“We have a lot younger girls on the team,” Solano said. “We just need to gel.”

Solano wants to improve on team skills, so that way the younger players can learn Solano’s style of play and improve.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Senior Kimberly Paschal shoots a free throw against West High School.