Team bonding is just one aspect of basketball that senior guard Kati Strickland loves. Having played the sport for 11 years, Strickland looks forward to games and bonding activities with the team.

“I really like team dinners because it’s a chance to bond and eat food together,” Strickland said. “We usually have [team dinners] the night before a game, but we haven’t had too many yet.”

Besides team dinners, Strickland likes her teammates.

“I love all the people on our team, we all get along really well, there’s no drama which is really nice,” Strickland said.

Strickland has gained experience through many club teams in the past 11 years.

“I’ve played on so many club teams, they helped me build up my skill level because I played every weekend,” Strickland said. “I eventually quit club teams freshman year.”

Strickland does have one superstition when it comes to playing sports.

“I have to wear my hair curly for every game in any sport,” Strickland said. “I wore it straight for cross country once and it didn’t go well.”

Strickland also participates in cross country and track and field, sometimes having to juggle those with basketball.

“Juggling the sports isn’t too hard because they are in different seasons, but basketball overlaps a little, it’s a long season,” Strickland said.

Strickland explains the hardest part of juggling her time.

“Not being able to focus on my grades as much is hard because I’m in sports,” Strickland said. “I just stay up late to finish homework.”

Strickland plans to attend Emporia State University next year and participate in their cross country and track and field teams.

“I’ll miss basketball but I’m just excited to still be competitive and be part of a team in Emporia,” Strickland said.

The teams’ next home game is tonight against Turner High School at 7:30 p.m.