The girls basketball team was defeated by Homestead 40-41 on Tuesday, Dec. 2, in their first game of the season.

For most of the first quarter, MVHS was in the lead, amassing 9 points fairly quickly, including a free throw by sophomore Emilia Cornfors Gurovski. Yet, toward the end of the quarter, untidy passes from the Spartans allowed the Mustangs to catch up and finish with a lead of 14-9 over the Spartans.

The second quarter saw a continued lead of the Mustangs, and the first half ended at 17-29. Although Homestead secured many points during this time, Spartan defense did not give up. 

“We held them before they took those free throws, we had held them to nine points in the second half of the game, which allowed us to get back into the game, to have a chance to win it or tie it,” head coach Xavier Cook said.

In the third quarter, despite a three-pointer from freshman Emilia Yamada that brought the Spartans to 20 points, the Mustangs maintained their lead.

During the final quarter, the Spartans began closing the gap. Succeeding fouls by both teams, Cornfors Gurovski scored two free throw points while Homestead managed one. The Spartans advanced and evaded an attempt by the Mustangs to run out the clock. With five seconds left, sophomore Fiona Lee made a three-pointer, bringing the Spartans up to 40. Ultimately, MVHS lost by one point.

“I didn’t know what to expect, because we have so many new players [on the team],” Cook said. “So we’re just trying to figure out where we are, who we are, when it’s all said and done.”