GVBB Finishes the Year With a Win

December 18, 2025

The Cate girls varsity basketball team returned to action Tuesday night for its second league game of the season against Laguna Blanca. After fielding a roster of just seven players last year, Laguna has rebuilt its program and now boasts 15 players, competing with renewed intensity and aggressiveness. The Rams, however, were largely unfazed by the Owls’ charge and exceeded the intensity from the opening tip.

Cate’s full-court press led to numerous turnovers, which the Rams capitalized on early, including an opening three-pointer from sophomore Chelsea Newlove. The pressure rattled Laguna Blanca, forcing an early timeout just minutes into the game.

From the outset, Newlove was tasked with defending Laguna’s top scorer, primary ball handler, and standout point guard, Caroline Durow. Newlove played relentlessly, staying in front of Durow and using her quickness and strength to make her uncomfortable for all 36 minutes of the game. Even when Cate shifted into a box-and-one defense, with senior Maia Holmes doubling Durow, Newlove remained the primary defender the full length of the court. Durow was held scoreless in two of the four quarters and finished the game with just six points.

Offensively, the Rams were led early by senior Emerson Evans, who exploited favorable matchups and opened the game with five points to give Cate a 10–3 first-quarter advantage. Evans would finish the night with 13 points. Fellow senior Jasper Shelmerdine was also instrumental on both ends of the floor, tallying multiple deflections and steals. Shelmerdine came alive offensively in the fourth quarter, scoring seven of her 11 points in the final eight minutes. Our other captain, Maia Holmes, also stepped up offensively, grabbing key rebounds to prevent Laguna from gaining multiple second-chance opportunities. Her fearlessness in the paint sent her to the free-throw line three times, providing Cate with crucial offense during a pivotal stretch of the game.

This was a major team win for Cate and an exciting way to close out the 2025 basketball year. When sophomore point guard Josie Song suffered an ankle injury early in the second quarter, others were forced into unfamiliar roles. Rather than lose composure, the Rams rallied, displaying growth and resilience.

Newlove stepped in as the primary point guard, while Shelmerdine helped break Laguna’s full-court press in the second half. Despite never having practiced a box-and-one defense, the Rams received significant contributions from their bench. Junior Aleema Bowo played multiple positions without complaint, consistently showing up for her teammates. Freshman Alice Zhang provided valuable minutes by handling the ball effectively, making smart passes, and playing strong defense. Sophomore Riya Mitera filled key minutes, helping run the offense and facilitate ball movement. Additionally, sophomores Violette Hogan and Sloan Harwell were rebounding machines, bringing tremendous energy whenever they stepped on the court.

The Rams head into the new year energized and excited to build on a complete and hard-earned team victory.

We’re grateful for the community support; the energy from the stands lifted our team throughout the night.