Head Coach Michael O’Brien was challenging them.

“You need to prove yourself in this District, coach told us,” senior Erin McCracken said.

The speech occurred at halftime during a close game with Stonebridge on Tuesday night. The girls basketball team came back to win 47-33.

The team played with a more intensity-filled defensive scheme shutting down the Stonebridge’s offense.

“Our defensive plan worked well against their best players” O’Brien said.

Junior Becca Altmeyer received most of the credit for the defense from her peers.

“Becca shut number 33 down,” McCracken said.

The win brought the team’s record in district play to 4-3, placing them 4th in the standings. It was the first win since the team came back from the Cougar tournament in San Diego, Ca. During the tournament, the team played had the change to play with other schools with different styles.

“The other teams were extremely quick, quicker than any team in Northern Virginia.” Assistant Coach Bill Drake said.

The tournament featured a shot clock, which the team does not play with in Northern Virginia. It mostly included teams from the West coast. 32 basketball teams in total participated in the tournament, and the team played four games in a span of four days. The focus of the trip was to bond as a team.

“We didn’t go out there to go 4-0.” O’Brien said.

The team visited Sea World, and was able to play with the dolphins because the head trainer was a college friend of O’Brien’s. The players said they were able to see a more personal side of O’Brien during the trip.

“[At school] Coach knows everyone and is everywhere. But we got to see a relaxed side of him.” Altmeyer said.

The team is getting ready to play the district for the second time.

“The three teams we lost to we played with until the end.” O’Brien said.

If the team played with the same defensive intensity that it did in the second half against Stonebridge, O’Brien says they can beat anyone in Districts. With the team currently 4th, it is scheduled to host a home game during the playoffs. But everything can change, depending on how well the team plays the second half of the season.

Coach O’Brien hopes to invigorate his team for the end of the season.

“He always says how he wants to light a fire under our butts.” McCracken said.

If Coach O’Brien is mad at them, the players can always go back to Coach Drake.

“[He] is our Dr. Phil.” McCracken said.