What was once the backbone of Oakville basketball is now declining, as seniors are becoming a rare sight with only three seniors for the current basketball season.

While injuries and time committment have played a part, there are other factors that have contributed to this sudden decline.

“I started thinking about quitting basketball after my sophomore year going into my junior year because I wanted to be passionate about playing,” Katie Lato (12) said, “and basketball wasn’t my top sport.”

Remembering that baketball is a team effort also influenced Lato’s decision to not return.

“…maybe a little burnout [played a part] that I don’t think I would have been happy or enjoyed playing my junior and senior year,” Lato said. “Basketball takes a lot of time and your best effort, and I wasn’t able to fully commit again. A moment that made me fall out of love with the sport is when I missed easy baskets or made stupid mistakes that made me feel like I was letting my team down.”

However, the seniors who decided not to play still had very positive comments about the program and reminisced about the good times.

“If I could go back, I would change the fact that I gave up once I realized I was done with the sport when I should’ve finished the season strong instead of letting my team down,” Kylie Garavaglia (12) said.

Among the current team, new roles have been redefined with the current seniors and them wanting to finish strong despite the number of their teammates declining. Originally, this year’s team caption, Alayna Dickerson (12), started playing basketball because her parents wanted her to play a sport, but she was influenced to continue to play by her father, as he would tell her stories of his basketball career. Now, she couldn’t imagine where she’s be without the sport. 

“It’s kind of a thing that keeps me going. It’s that one thing that I’ve been doing my entire life before I could even remember and something I’ve alway had,” Dickerson said. “When everything is going wrong in my life, at least I still have basketball and I can still get all of my emotions out whenever I’m on the court… It’s a family and a community with your teammates, and it’s hardwork and dedication.”