CHULA VISTA, Calif. — The Southwestern women's basketball team played their last game of the season against MiraCosta College Friday night, ending a significantly challenging year for the jaguars.
After losing a big part of their team due to injuries and transfers early on in the season, some unlikely players stepped up to help the Southwestern women’s basketball team get this far.
Fans packed into the stands to show their unwavering support as the Southwestern Jaguars took on the MiraCosta Spartans, marking the end of a gruelingly tough season.
Despite the challenging season the players showcased determination and spirit till the very end.
“When we go back to last year’s team, this was a program, a team that participated in the California state playoffs and due to departures, attrition...the roster for the 2023-2024 season was quite frankly, depleted," said Ron Valenzuela, Southwestern College Athletic Director.
Valenzuela says the team was in desperate need of players at the start of the season, so he and others in the program immediately got to work to try to find other school athletes that could pick up basketball.
“That’s when I had asked our head coach women’s soccer team, Carolina Soto, about the idea of pitching this to her soccer players. So essentially borrowing her players to fill a basketball team," he said.
A total of eleven Jaguar soccer players, many with no prior basketball experience, stepped up to the plate to fill the gaps.
“I think we’ve definitely gotten a lot closer learning like a new sport, and then coming together, we were previous on the soccer team together, but I feel like we’ve all gotten closer because this is out of our comfort zone so it just, we’re pushing each other beyond our limits," said player, Abby Schmitz.
“We’re just learning together and it makes it so much better," said Ariana Lieras, player on the team.
“I think it’s been so much more easier since we’re all together, and it’s not just one person that needs to adapt, it’s the whole team that needs to adapt," added player, Gialli Francisco.
“We’re just trying to have fun and bond together," said player, Aliah Montano.
Despite the odds stacked against them, the players say they embraced the challenge.
“We’ve played soccer our whole lives and going to basketball is just new to us but it’s definitely been and exciting and fun experience," said Lieras.
“I think we all did it to support the school too, because we’ve just been treated really well and respected as a soccer team and then coming on, we’re like, lets help out coach," added Schmitz.
The Jaguars went on to score 24 points against the Spartans, a season high for points scored.
“It’s more than just winning or losing. This is about some of the fundamental reasons that athletes and in this case, specifically women athletes, participate in sports. It’s about building character. It’s about resilience. Its about having the courage to compete," said Valenzuela.
Valenzuela said the school will work to rebuild their team for the next season.
WATCH RELATED: Southwestern College's EMT, Paramedic programs help bring diversity to the field