San Jacinto College Women’s Basketball made history last year when it clinched a spot in the Region XIV championship game playoffs for the first time since the team was founded.

Head Coach Michael Madrid credits several factors for last season’s success emphasizing “good team cohesion” as a major contributor.

“We were very competitive overall, and the players spent a lot of time on their own putting in work,” Madrid said.

The Lady Gators finished the season with an overall record of 22-11 losing to Blinn College in the championship game. Although the season ended without a championship title, the advancement had a significant long-term impact on the players.

Jasmine James, a freshman last year, said the 2016 season was an “eye-opening experience” and the team performed well as a whole, and responded effectively to Madrid’s coaching style. She explained, while most coaches are vocal during a game, Madrid is unusually quiet because “he knows what to expect” from his team.

As a returning player, James had the opportunity to practice with a few hopefuls during tryouts, and after getting a chance to play with them, she said she looks forward to the upcoming season with her goal firmly set “to make it past the regional tournament.”

“We have a lot of new faces, and they are learning our system,” Madrid added. “We are excited about them.”

Meanwhile, Madrid said he believes a championship is possible if the team continues to “compete every day and be consistent.”

“If you do those two things,” he said, “you give yourself every opportunity to be successful in life and on the court.”

As for the Lady Gators’ strategy, Madrid said he plans on finishing the season strong.

“Our preparation is set up to play our best basketball toward the end of the season,” he said, “and we consistently remind our players that the season is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Information for the Lady Gators upcoming schedule will be available at http://www.sanjacsports.com/womensbasketball/womens-basketball-home.