With the opposing team leading for the majority of the match, the Archer Panthers had just managed to tie the game. Then sophomore Caitlin Chen was passed the ball, ran up the court, and made the three point shot as the buzzer rang. 

Chen describes this moment during a game against AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School two years ago as her most memorable on Archer’s basketball team. Chen is now a senior, and is serving her second year as varsity basketball team captain.

The Oracle sat down with Chen to ask her about her goals for the season, and her love for basketball.

How long have you been involved with basketball?

Caitlin Chen [CR]: I started playing basketball in kindergarten, recreationally, and then I started club teams around fourth grade. I came to Archer and started as the starting point guard my freshman year. I’ve been captain of the basketball team since my junior year, and this year as well.

What are your goals as captain this year? What are the team’s goals?

[CR]: To keep a positive environment and lead the team in[to] a ready spot to win for next year. I hope we can do well in our season, but this team is a really, really young team and they have a long way to go. They have to develop as players and as people, so I’m hoping that I can lead them as well as I can so they’re ready for the future. We want to win league, or at least try to get to the top two, and then make it to CIF and see where we can go from there.

What is the most important quality a basketball player can have?

[CR]:I would say, hustle. Basically hard work and determination. You have to understand that it’s a time consuming sport, and it’s not always going to be all wins, you’re going to have to lose, and deal with losing. As long as you’re working hard and being the best player you can be, then I think it’s a great sport for you.