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Annie Zhang

LOCKED IN. To get in the game time mentality, Devine sticks to a warmup routine that usually guarantees her success on the court.

As the basketball soars through the air, the court goes silent, awaiting the fate of the game decided by a singular shot. The ball sinks into the basket and the crowd of students, parents and faculty erupt in applause and cheers for the player who made the three-point shot. All eyes are on sophomore Katy Devine, but basketball is merely the backdrop she uses to express herself.
Devine’s basketball career began at a young age when her family’s involvement in the sport naturally led her to follow in their footsteps: “I got involved with basketball because my whole family plays it,” she said.
As she grew older, basketball slowly emerged as a means to grow deeper connections with teammates and as an outlet to take a break from her everyday life. “When I play in games, it is a way to express myself because I feel stress-free,” Devine said.
Besides the freedom she receives when playing in practice or games, basketball also acts as a means for Devine to show off parts of her character, such as her diligence and dedication to the game: “[When I play], I get to show my progress, how hardworking I am, and how much I love the game,” she said.
Despite the fact that Devine’s involvement in the sport allows her to focus on herself, opportunities to meet new people constantly arise as the basketball season refreshes every year. One of the keys to her self-expression through basketball is being a leader and helping younger, more inexperienced teammates. “Working as a team allows me to create new connections and is one of my favorite parts about the sport,” Devine said.

Moreover, Devine’s constant participation with the girls varsity basketball team has allowed her gameplay to flow more smoothly, owing it all to the number of team-building activities and hangouts the team engages in both during and outside of the basketball season. “The relationship with my teammates makes the game more fun…because of our connection,” she said.
Although basketball allows Devine to display parts of herself in a number of different ways, the one thing she keeps constant is her preparation for the game. In order to perform to the best of her ability, she sticks to what she knows to work: “Some of my routines are the same, like warmups and how I mentally prepare myself,” she said.
Not only does basketball serve as a way for Devine to escape reality through the intensity of the game, but it has also led her to create a multitude of fun memories with her teammates.