Eighth-grader Erynn M. scored 22 points to least the varsity girls’ basketball team past Cocoa Beach 47-32 in a home game Friday night to raise its record to 5-4.

The team was pumped up to play heading into the game.

“I’m looking forward to playing Cocoa Beach because it should be a close and competitive game,” Junior Chloe Garoust said. “It’s also a rivalry game so those are always fun and exciting.”

Coach Hugh Bain agrees that Cocoa Beach would be a great game.

“It will be exciting because it is a District matchup that we will want to do well in,” he said. “The past few games, including last season, have been close back and forth games that could have gone either way, so those are always exciting.  And it’s always fun to work with the Cocoa Beach head coach Alicia Swaggerty as we play a chess match to try and find the right strategy for our respective teams to win.”

Before the game, Garoust was confident her team would win.

“We should be able to compete really well against them as long as we focus on our passes and don’t play sloppy,” Garoust said. “We have been working hard in practice to prepare for these next games because they are some of our tougher games this season.”

She also made it clear that she and her team yes will need to step up their game. 

“They have some good players on their team and they run a decent offense so we will have to work harder on our defense.” Garoust said.

The Lady Minutemen will have an opportunity for revenge when the teams meet again on Jan. 6 in the Cocoa Beach gym.

By Ava Hurlbert