Oasis Middle School's girls basketball squad has worked all year to prove to Southwest Florida that they are the best. The school's gym is full of banners, and this squad really wanted to add one that said "district champs."
"I think our mindset was that we need to win it because we know it's never happened before," said Oasis Middle School guard Gracie Louzao.
Well, mission accomplished! History has been made -- for the first time ever, the Lady Gators won the Lee County district championship on Thursday, October 24.
"I am very proud of this team," said head coach Kristen Aley. "I get emotional thinking about it because I have been working with these girls for four years now to build this program."
It all paid off. The Gators had won nine straight leading up to the district title game, with just one more obstacle ahead of recording a perfect, 10-0 season -- defeating Veterans Park.
"We were all like 'Oh, it's game time. Like we have to stay locked in,'" said Gators guard Sophia Hall.
Oasis fans packed the gym at Cypress Lake High School for the Lee County District Championship, chanting and cheering for the Gators...and the girls' did not let them down.
"They put in the work here every day," said Aley. "I think they knew that as long as they did what they knew how to do, what they were trained to do and work together like they always have, that they had a very good shot of winning the game."
The bond that the Gators have created on and off the court and the passion they have for the game has made them resilient. They overcame a five-point deficit at the half to flip the switch and secure the district title, winning 33-23.
"We are a sisterhood," said Aley. "We love each other. We work together. "
"I think what makes us so good is that we play with our hearts," added Louzao.
The season may officially be over, but the legacy these girls have built will live forever.
"We showed everyone that as long as you train really hard, you can come like as far as you train," said Hall.