Girls’ basketball: Team moves up to De Anza League

Coach: Mike Davey

2011 record: 21-5 overall, 12-0 league

2011 recap: After finishing first and going undefeated in the El Camino League, the team moved up to the upper De Anza League this season, where they will face tougher competition. Standout players Campbell Oreglia and Talia Sisco graduated.

Star player: Senior power forward Hannah Johnson

Key additions: Senior point guard Bianca Zakerani

Key matchups/games/meets: Dec. 11 vs. Fremont (first game)

With the team mostly unchanged from last year, the girls’ basketball team will face stiff competition in the De Anza League.

“We didn’t only move into the upper league, but also into the best public school league in the Bay Area, so it will be difficult for us,” varsity coach Mike Davey said.

Senior power forward Hannah Johnson said the team is ready for the challenge.

“Working really hard together, not getting mad at each other when things don’t go very well and sticking together as a group are important,” she said.

Along with Johnson, Davey singled out several other key players, including junior shooting guard Dharini Ramaswamy and senior guard Michelle Won. The demographics of the team have also changed since last season, with smaller and younger girls, after their tallest player, Campbell Oreglia, who stood at 6-1, graduated last year. Currently, their tallest player is Johnson at 5-11.

“We’ll need to work a lot harder in the weight room to get as strong to the level we’re playing against, because I think it will be a shock to a lot of us of how strong the girls in the other league are,” Johnson said.

Despite the stiff competition they’ll be facing, the girls are ready to show they belong in the upper league.

“It’s going to be a challenge for us, but you will have to play with the best if you want to get better,” Davey said.