As the referee got ready for the toss, both teams tensed up for the tip-off. Among Archer’s varsity basketball team members, Alexa Kagiwada was the only senior, playing the shooting guard position. The team had an overall 0-12 record.
The Archer community celebrated Senior Night for Kagiwada Jan. 21 during an away game against Brentwood. Kagiwada said that being the only senior has helped her gain confidence on and off the court, as well as help her practice leadership with underclassmen.
The Oracle sat down with Kagiwada to learn more about her journey as a basketball player.
When did you start playing basketball?
Alexa Kagiwada [AK]: I started playing in elementary school because my parents told me I needed to play a sport. I was a very shy kid, so I didn’t really like any individual sport like tennis or softball, so I chose basketball.
What are your favorite parts about the sport?
[AK]: The collaboration aspect. I really like how everything is a team effort, and it really forces me to be better about communicating and talking to my teammates at all times.
What is the most challenging aspect about basketball?
[AK]: Communication and collaboration are simultaneously the hardest parts of basketball. Just technically, it’s really hard to be talking to my teammates at the same time that I’m playing. It’s also really easy to get down on yourself because of one mistake you made, and it’s really easy to forget about the bigger picture as a team. That’s something I really struggled with.
What have you learned during your years on the team?
[AK]: I did club basketball outside of Archer in eighth grade, and I definitely was the worst player on my team. I really hated it because every time I made a mistake, my whole team had to run. That made me doubt myself and hate basketball, and I didn’t even join the Archer team my freshman year. However, when I did join, the Archer team fostered a more positive environment, and I was able to challenge what I thought before about what it meant to be a basketball player and what it meant to be a better teammate. Not everything hinges on what one person does.
What was it like being the team’s only senior, and how did that differ from past seasons?
[AK]: In my previous years, I had a lot of amazing upperclassmen who were able to guide me, especially last year. They helped me on and off the court, and I really appreciated that from them. Being the only senior is difficult because without any other seniors, the team feels empty. Also, as someone who is a little shy and doesn’t step up, it’s harder to step into that role of being an upperclassman, but there are plenty of teammates to help fill that spot.
How do you show leadership as the only senior on the team?
[AK]: As the only senior, I feel like I have a responsibility to foster a positive environment. I do my best to just be positive, no matter how many points we may be losing by. I also try to say ‘Hi’ to people in the halls because I know that can make a difference when you’re new to the basketball environment. Just being positive is the most helpful thing.
What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start basketball?
[AK]: Do it because why not? A lot of the time, I stop myself from doing stuff because I think I won’t be good at it or I won’t like it. I have to constantly remind myself I won’t know unless I try, and I think everyone should approach learning new things in general with that mindset. I would also just say watch basketball games because you can learn a lot from the sport. Choose one player to focus on and see everything they do. Everyone has to start somewhere.
