The Seattle Prep girls’ basketball team is looking to defend their Metro League title this year after defeating Bishop Blanchet in the finals last year. However, their season will include another big event. Instead of taking a nice leisurely break to enjoy the holidays, the Panthers will head down to Arizona to compete in their first tournament of the year and hope to continue their dominance from last year this time, out of state.

The team departs from SeaTac airport on December 26th and returns on the 31^st meaning that players will be spending the remainder of Christmas Break away from their friends, family, and the comfort of their homes. When asked about this conflict, Emma Nisbet ’21 stated, “It will be an adjustment for newer players however older players are used to it and know that basketball rarely takes time off.”

She added that she is also excited for the hot weather giving her and her teammates a break from the never-ending rain back home. Nisbet has been a part of the program since her freshman year and can’t wait to “gel as a team and compete for some more hardware.”

This is the first out of state tournament for Nisbet and the rest of the players and the Panthers are ready to tear apart their competitors, hoping to make traveling a regular occurrence. The tournament occurs in the middle of the season and Coach Brian Elsner hopes that this experience will “help form the team identity on and off the court.”

Obviously, the team wants to win but Coach Elsner also stressed the importance of gaining momentum and camaraderie for the second half of the season and playoffs. Not only is it during the middle of the season, but the tournament also takes place right in the middle of the school year as well and will serve as a much-needed break from the stress of school, finals, and anything else happening back home. The basketball buzz is setting in, and the Panthers hard work starts now to show Arizona who’s boss.