The Joliet Junior College women’s basketball team looks to end the season strong in hopes of a playoff berth. After winning on Valentine’s Day against Wilbert Wright College 97-53, the Wolves are in need of winning their remaining two more games to make that dream happen.
The last two games of this season for the Wolves are both at home against Harper College and Triton College, respectively. This season after the Valentines Day game, the Wolves are 6-5 at home compared to 4-7 on the road. Freshman and sophomore guards Samantha Casanova and Makenna Boyle spoke highly of the impact playing at home makes.
“Energy is going to be huge for us. At this point in the season, talent isn’t the difference; effort and momentum are. When we’re at home and the crowd gets behind us, it always gives us an extra push to keep playing our game,” said Casanova.
“Crowd support and good energy are crucial, especially in these final home games. Both things impact my teammates and my performance tremendously,” Boyle said.
A theme for the Wolves this season has been close games, having 10 games decided by 10 points or less and seven decided by seven points or less; team chemistry has grown through these moments. With the season depending on the outcomes of these final two games, Casanova and Boyle understand the importance of maintaining strong connections with one another.
“Chemistry is everything in close games. When it’s tight, you rely on trust, trusting that your teammate will make the right read, hit the right shot, and just overall do everything we have worked on in practice,” Casanova said.
“Team chemistry is all about trusting one another and knowing your personnel. It is very important that we all trust each other to make a decision and have effective communication,” Boyle said.
This team has the opportunity to do something special, ending the season on a three-game winning streak, all at home, to make the playoffs. While this opportunity offers significant motivation to succeed, it also brings a certain amount of pressure to meet those expectations. Both Casanova and Boyle had a different viewpoint, but the main goal and belief remain at the forefront.
“Honestly for me and my team, it’s motivation. Pressure only matters if you let it. For us, it’s an opportunity, which is always what Coach Shaun [Sanderson] preaches. Everything we’ve worked for throughout the season, and our hard battles, comes down to this stretch,” Casanova said.
“It definitely adds pressure, but again, we just have to take it game by game and can’t get ahead of ourselves. My teammates and I know what we are all capable of, so I think that brings motivation to everyone,” Boyle said.
The stage is set for the Wolves, and they all share a unified mindset. To reach the postseason, it is crucial for them to approach these final two games one at a time.
“Our mindset is simple; it’s just one game at a time. We’re not looking too far ahead. We understand what’s at stake, but we’re focused on controlling what we can control, and that is just the next game,” Casanova said.
“I think everyone has the same mindset of one game at a time, but also that winning mindset. We have to take it game by game and keep our composure even when in high-pressure or challenging situations,” Boyle said.
