Southwest wins most games in 13 years; program’s second-highest single-season win total

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

The Southwest girls basketball team turned in one of the program’s most successful seasons in more than a decade, finishing with a 19-8 record and one tournament title.

“I would give this season an A,” said Shawn Johnson, Southwest coach. “Finishing 19-8 is a tremendous accomplishment for our program. It’s the most wins we’ve had in 13 years and the second most in school history, which says a lot about the commitment and work ethic of this group.

“Our players bought in from day one, and they represented our program with pride every time they stepped on the floor.”

Johnson said the team’s development throughout the season showed most clearly in ball-handling and game management.

“The biggest improvement we saw was in how we took care of the basketball and managed the game,” Johnson said. “Early in the season, we had moments where turnovers hurt us, but as the year went on, our players matured, made better decisions and understood the value of every possession.”

Johnson said there were still areas where the team could have continued to grow.

“Like any team, there are always areas to improve,” Johnson said. “I would have liked to see us become even more consistent on the defensive end and stronger on the boards. When we were locked in defensively and rebounding well, we were a very tough team to beat.”

Johnson said one of the most memorable moments of the season came in a comeback road victory.

“One moment that really stands out was our comeback win at Sarcoxie,” Johnson said. “We were down 10 points in the third quarter on the road, and our players never panicked. They stayed together, competed, and ended up winning the game by 7. That game really showed the character and resilience of this team.”

Johnson also pointed to a historic individual performance during the season.

“Another special moment was Jaretsi Quintanilla scoring 49 points and breaking the school record for points in a single game,” Johnson said. “It was an incredible performance and a great moment for her and our program.”

Johnson said the team’s only senior played a major role in the program’s success.

“Jaretsi was our lone senior, but her impact on this program is enormous,” Johnson said. “She set the standard every day with her work ethic, leadership and competitiveness.

“She led by example and pushed everyone around her to be better. Her contributions to this program will leave a lasting legacy.”

Johnson said the team’s younger players took steps that should help the program moving forward.

“Our underclassmen gained a lot of valuable experience this year,” Johnson said. “They’re going to bring energy, aggressiveness, and a competitive mindset moving forward. They’ve seen what it takes to win, and now it will be their turn to step up and lead.”

Johnson said the team achieved the goals it set at the start of the season.

“One of our goals was to improve our win total from last season, and another was to reach the district semifinals, and we accomplished both,” he said. “Our players put in the work and earned those results.

“Our goal next season is to build on the success we had this year. We want to continue improving every day and compete in each and every game. Most importantly, we want to keep developing players who represent our program with hard work, toughness and pride.”

Johnson said the season represents meaningful progress for the program.

“I’m incredibly proud of this group,” Johnson said. “They showed toughness, resilience and pride in representing our school and community. This season was a big step forward for our program, and I believe it has laid the foundation for even greater success in the future.”

Southwest’s season came to an end with a 59-51 loss to Pierce City in the Class 3, District 11 tournament.