This year, the Brentwood Christian School girls basketball team had a remarkable season, making it to the playoffs and finishing with an 11-17 record going into the playoffs. The Lady Bears missed the playoffs last season, but earned the fourth seed from TAPPS 2-5A this year, finishing the season with a loss to now state champion Midland Christian.

However, the season was not without its challenges, especially with a major loss to their roster due to injuries.

Zaniah Williams, the senior Lady Bear and team captain, suffered an ACL tear that ended her season early. Despite this setback, the team remained focused and resilient.

“When Zaniah got hurt, we had to keep the hustle and spirit up,” said sophomore Ella Kennedy.
Kennedy, the team’s other captain, stepped up alongside fellow sophomores Anu Oguntade and Ella Crouch. Junior Rachel Walker also had a few big games of scoring.

A key factor to the team's success this year was the freshmen talent; they brought fresh energy and enthusiasm to the team, including Ari Rainelli and Kat Morgan, among others.

This season's challenges provided valuable experience for the younger players, giving them a chance to grow and develop their skills.

“You always want to change injuries, but after accepting them, it’s important to focus on what's next and what lessons you can learn from the season,“ added Ethan Grant, assistant coach of the Lady Bears this season. “We had a young team this season and a strong start to the year, but unfortunately, injuries affected us after that.

“But those injuries allowed the young players to step into their roles and do things they weren’t entirely comfortable with. When they become juniors and seniors, this experience will greatly benefit them.”

A truly memorable moment for Kennedy and the team came when she hit a game-winning buzzer-beater 3-point shot at the Lake Country Tournament against Burton Adventist. Other key moments included district victories and beating New Braunfels Christian Academy twice.

Each year the team assigns a motto to practice and strive for. This year’s motto for the Lady Bears was “God is greater than the highs and lows.”

Despite the challenges, the Lady Bears carried this motto with them through every victory and setback, showing resilience, growth, and faith throughout the season.

“It reflects our lives,” said Grant. “When good things happen, you give glory to God, and when bad things happen, you still have to give glory to God.

“I hope that all of our players learn from that and continue to give glory to God.”