Evelyn H. says she she is overjoyed to to play on girls’ varsity basketball team despite not being in high school yet. 

“I feel excited to be a part of the varsity team,” the eighth-grader said. “I play with a travel basketball team called East Coast United. I have been playing for about three years now. It’s prepared me a lot. I practice with high-school girls who play all over the county and sometimes we play high-school teams at tournaments.”

Her plan is to continue to develop her skills as she play with mostly older athletes.

“I’ve been playing basketball for a long time, so I have good fundamentals.” Evelyn said. “ I am always working to improve my skill set, but I feel I can compete with anybody.”

Evelyn plays with fellow eighth-grader Erynn M., and the two are the only middle-schoolers on the 10-person team.

“I’ve been playing for three years.” Erynn said. “I was on the team last year, and we went to regionals.”

Evelyn also played West Shore basketball last season.

“I was on the middle-school basketball team last year and we won the district championship for the first time in school history,” she said. “I also played for the JV team last year.”

By Ava Hurlbert

Editor’s note: Brevard Public Schools policy prohibits the inclusion of middle-schoolers’ last names on district-sponsored websites.