Freshman guard Anna Marie Godina drives past a defender during a home game against Carl Sandburg College on Saturday, Feb. 15. The Chiefs’ young squad showed grit and growth all season, laying the foundation for a promising future.

By: Johnny Crouch, Sports & Activities Executive

What started as a season of unknowns ended as one filled with promise. The Waubonsee women’s basketball team may not have lit up the standings, but what they built along the way could be the start of something even more impressive.

With a roster made up of nine freshmen and only one sophomore, expectations outside the locker room were modest. But the Chiefs were able to fight their way to a 14-16 overall record, including wins over the No. 2 and No. 6 seeds in their region; no small feat for such a young group. Their season came to a close in the first round of the NJCAA Region 4 tournament with a tough 93-63 loss to Kankakee Community College, but the foundation has clearly been set.

Head coach Jim Williams, who just wrapped up his 13th year with the program and was the 2022 Skyway Coach of the Year, knew this year would be different from the start.

“We went from a team that wasn’t very positive about themselves to a team that now says, ‘We can play,’” Williams said. “Four girls who didn’t get a chance to play a lot in high school made significant contributions at the college level.”

With almost the entire roster made up of freshmen, the Chiefs had no choice but to grow quickly. And while the early part of the season had its struggles, the team began to click as the games wore on.

Freshman point guard Anna Marie Godina, who started all 30 games and finished second on the team in scoring with an average of 13.3 points per game, said it was clear from the beginning that this group would need to lean on each other.

“I knew we would go through some adversity, especially with almost all of us being freshmen,” Godina said. “My mindset going into the year was to come out better than where I started, and I accomplished that. So did everyone on the team.”

Two players in particular emerged as key contributors: Godina and fellow freshman forward Makayla McNally.

Godina was not only a consistent scorer but also led the team in assists with 4.1 per game and ranked third in NJCAA Region 4 in three-pointers. Her sharp shooting became a cornerstone of the Chiefs’ offense.

“I knew that I had always been a good shooter, but after talking to our coaches, they had a lot of confidence in me to become a scorer,” Godina said. “I didn’t expect to be a top shooter in the country. I was just doing what my coaches asked me to do, which was produce.”

McNally was a force in the paint all season long, averaging a team-best 13.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. She finished fifth in Region 4 in rebounding and third in offensive boards, making her one of the top post players in the area.

“Rebounding has always been my favorite aspect of the game,” McNally said. “I’ve always been taught that there’s so many factors to the game of basketball other than just scoring. Passing, defense, hustle are just as important and contribute so much to the game.”

Despite their youth, the team gelled quickly. From summer practices to the final buzzer of the season, the chemistry was clear.

“When I first started practicing with the team over the summer, I knew we would be a special group,” McNally said. “We had a lot of fun being on a team together. I wish we had more time with the girls who won’t be returning.”

Williams emphasized how much the team matured as the season went on.

“Our biggest challenge all year was to move on to the next play,” Williams said. “When we did that, we learned how to handle adversity. That is big in basketball and even bigger in life.”

One moment that stood out for the Chiefs was an upset win over the College of Lake County, a game Godina described as thrilling.

“That victory truly demonstrated to us as a team that we could compete with anyone,” Godina said. “It gave us the boost we needed to finish the season strong.”

With six players expected to return next year, including their top scorers and playmakers, the Chiefs are already looking ahead. The incoming class has only added to that excitement.With returning experience and new talent joining the mix, the optimism is justified.

“This is the best recruiting class I’ve had in my 13 years here,” Williams said. “We want to win conference and have a 20-win season.”

Godina is equally excited for what is next: “All the individuals we are bringing on board will be fantastic additions,” Godina said. “I am truly excited to build a sisterhood with all our teammates.”

If this season proved anything, it is that the Waubonsee women’s basketball program is in good hands and on the rise. With a year of experience, an already tight-knit bond, and talent across the board, the future is bright at Waubonsee.

“This group was special,” Williams said. “They loved each other and they fought for each other. That is all a coach could ask for.”