Marco Middle School Girls Wrap up “Amazing” Season

The Marco Island Middle School Girls Basketball Team recently completed a highly successful 24-4 season under the leadership of Patsy Garcia.

“It was an amazing season,” Garcia remarked. “The girls worked tremendously hard. I’m so appreciative and thankful. I had so much help. I had Coach Travis Barry, Coach Mark Green and Coach Jim Watt help me out when I couldn’t be available. They were able to step in and help out. And come playoff time they were able to help out as well. I’m very proud of the girls. We didn’t have a perfect season, but every game they left everything out on the court. So it means the world to me because I get to see them grow. All the way from try-outs to the very end.

“Those four tough losses, we learned and we grew from everyone. So at least they can take that in life, you know, we’re going to have some setbacks. We’re going to fall down. But the sooner we can pick each other up the quicker we’re back on the road again.”

After a strong regular season, the girls had mixed results in the playoff.

“We were the first seed in the southern division,” Garcia said. “We were eliminated in the semi-finals.” 

After beating Corkscrew Middle School 34-31, the Marco girls fell 38-16 to North Naples. It was a hard loss for the girls to take.

“Absolutely, it was hard for us” Garcia stated. “It’s the playoffs. It’s win or go home. The girls played their best. We lost to a really good North Naples team. They were the better team that day. They won the entire tournament.”

Garcia was proud of her team—especially the fact that they played as a team.

“I had a good group of girls with supportive parents. They’re hard workers. I have a lot of eighth-graders who I’ll be losing next year. They all did their part. They were all very hard working. When they played like a team, they played beautifully. It was amazing. They really learned the value of teamwork this season.”

The leading scorers for the Eagles were eighth-grader Lyndsay Lowdermilk and sixth-grader Medney Garraux. 

This was Garcia’s second season coaching the Marco girls. She coached youth basketball in Texas, where she was the point guard on her high school team. She loves being a coach.

“I enjoy it like there’s no tomorrow,” Garcia said. “I’m very passionate, and I love the sport.”

She also loves watching the girls grow.

“I love just having them grow as individuals and as young ladies.”