As the echoes of the last buzzer from an unforgettable season and a valiant run to the state semifinals fade away, the Union Springs girls basketball team is gearing up for a fresh start in the upcoming season. Despite the bittersweet ending of the previous campaign and the departure of five talented seniors, the team is brimming with enthusiasm and determination to create new triumphs on the court.

The Wolves, who were seeking the first state title in program history, lost a grueling matchup to Section 6 champion Randolph in the Class C state semifinal, 45-40. But still, the incredible season was one where they could hang their hat on, ending up with a 24-1 record that included the Interscholastic Athletic Conference Small School title, a Section 4 championship and a regional title.

The departure of five seniors who were integral to the team’s success brings an inevitable shift in dynamics. However, under the watchful eye of Head Coach Andy Kalet, the team is poised to embrace this transition with a blend of seasoned returning players, including five seniors, and promising newcomers.

“This year, we have five seniors on the team, so we have good numbers returning,” said Kalet. “We also have some youth. We have three sophomores who are starting right now and are doing good things for us.”

Although Kalet says that the team will miss last year’s graduating seniors and the legacy they built, he doesn’t want this year’s team to harp on what happened last year, but instead flip the page and start a new chapter.

“I want, as a coach, to put last year behind us. I don’t want to compare us to last year’s team. We are starting fresh, but at the same time we have some experience, and we know what it takes to get to big games and big stages.”

The Wolves’ regular season kicked off over the weekend, when they traveled down to Johnson City to play in the Mark Woitach Girls Tip Off Tournament. They opened the tournament by playing the host school, Johnson City, but ultimately lost, 65-40. Kalet points to the inexperience and nervousness as to reasons why the Wolves didn’t play well against their tough foe.

“We know we could have done a lot of things to lessen that margin, but the bottom line is in a few weeks, or couple months, we are going to be thanking Johnson City for making us better because they showed us where we needed to work.”

After that, the Wolves came to play, trouncing Newfield in the second and last game of the tournament, 68-23.

The upcoming season promises an exciting blend of seasoned players and emerging talents eager to prove themselves. The team's commitment to hard work, discipline, and unity has been the cornerstone of their success, and they aim to build upon this foundation to reach new heights.

The team is geared up not just to excel on the court but also to carry forward the school's legacy of sportsmanship and resilience. They have been diligently honing their skills at practice, refining strategies, and fostering a strong sense of camaraderie ahead of the Cayuga County Holiday Basketball Tournament that will take place in a couple of weeks.

“One possession, one minute, one quarter, one game at a time,” says Kalet. “I’m excited. I love this team and I think we have a lot of potential. We just have to find that edge and competitive grit, and once we do, its going to be fun.”