Colorado City, AZ – With only seven players on a team roster that quickly dropped to six, the El Capitan girls’ basketball team began their season knowing there would be no easy games and no time to rest. While most opponents rotated fresh players off a bench of six or seven, El Capitan’s six athletes logged nearly every minute of every game. Foul trouble was a constant concern, with the team winning one game with only four players on the floor. What they lacked in numbers, however, they made up for in grit, determination, and a willingness to give their all on the court.
Their postseason run was nothing short of remarkable. Facing teams of twelve or more in the regional rounds, El Capitan players leaned on raw determination, grinding out victories that secured them 3rd place in regionals and sent them to the quarterfinals in the state playoff games.
When basketball tryouts failed to produce the desired number of players, the school considered eliminating the girls’ team amid concerns about student health and safety. The players petitioned the administration to let them play despite the odds arrayed against them. William Timpson agreed to coach them. Principal Richard Campbell noted that “These girls have had nothing easy. They lost their coach last year and didn’t have anyone to lead them over the summer, but they kept working. The team skill and experience ranged from a girl that was a beginner, never played before, to one player that has played varsity ball for four years. With this wide range of experience, they had to work together in order to overcome every obstacle.”
Coach Timpson said that he is proud of these players. They qualified for the state quarterfinals and represented the school honorably in a battle against the number one seeded team. Team Captain Samantha Hammon said that although this season was extremely challenging, each team member can look back with pride that their six-man team ranked 8th in state and broke El Capitan’s girls’ basketball record by winning the first round of a state competition.
