Timberlane Girls Basketball is in the middle of one of the best seasons this team has ever seen. The Owls are currently 9-5, looking to make a shocking run in the post season, letting everyone know that Timberlane is a threat and a good team in the league. The girls aim to finish the season on a high note and continue to improve each and every practice.
The Owls still have five more games on their schedule. They have one more home game against Bishop Guertin on Thursday, February 19. They also travel four more times, and will close their season away at Salem High School on Tuesday, February 24.
The team is full of many athletes that have contributed to this season’s success. Julia Johnson, a returning varsity player, is very hopeful about this team going into the post season. Speaking on the season Johnson said, “The season is going great, we are 9-4 currently and have some competition coming up in our next games.” She also has a positive outlook on playoffs as she stated, “As a team we are expecting to win a playoff game and compete with top teams.”
The Owls are coached by a very reputable coach within the NHIAA for both basketball and football, Kevin Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald has brought this girls basketball program from being 2-12 in Division 2 all the way to 9-5 in Division l within a three year period. His hard work is looking like it’s paying off for basketball, and he’s been rewarded on the football side, winning the Division ll state title just five years ago in 2021.
In his first two seasons, Fitzgerald has led this team to the playoffs both years. The team is looking to make a statement by making the playoffs for the third year in a row. Currently the Owls sit well in playoff range as the sixth seed. Before 2023, Timberlane Girls Basketball fell short of the playoffs for over 10 years. Looking ahead towards the post season Fitzgerald stated, “To make a run in the playoffs we have to coach and play well. Continue to do the things we have done well all year and improve on areas of need. Supporting each other, being great teammates, and catching a break here and there will help us.”
Without the help from his assistant coach Amy Stewart, none of this would even be possible. “First and foremost, Amy cares about the girls. She is invested in them as young women and invested in helping them on and off the court. Amy Stewart is a very familiar face to the Timberlane athletic community. Stewart has four kids, class of ‘20, ‘22, ‘25, and ‘29. She has seen the game of basketball from both sides, on the bench and in the bleachers. “I would much rather be behind the scenes participating in practice everyday and getting to see first hand the process that goes into growing a program into something special.”
Playoffs begin the first week of March. With the caring, positive, and dedicated coaches partnered with the talented roster, the Owls are heading in the right direction to make the playoffs this season.
