After starting off the season playing three of the top five teams in the state, coach Arsenio Richardson said the team has improved and kept its spirits high despite being defeated by Park Center.

“Park Center is the number four team in the state — they are undefeated,” Richardson said.  “We came in and played really hard, just missed a couple easy shots and some free throws but we didn’t play badly. It was a really good team, we just didn’t pull it out.”

Park lost to Park Center 62-70 Dec. 3. The team now has a record of 0-5. 

Junior Izzy Segal said the team has been struggling to keep the energy up in the second half, but saw the team fight for the entirety of the game against Park Center.

“Mainly in the second half when our defense is down at the other side of the court, our energy isn’t as good and we don’t talk as much which gives (the opponent) more baskets,” Segal said. “Yesterday we played collectively the whole game and the result was better even though we lost.

Senior captain Jordyn Turek said one of the team’s main strengths is their ability to work together. 

“We know where certain people are going to be and as a collective group we’ve been doing that really well. When someone takes a shot or does something, (we) have each other’s back and believe that we’ll make it,” Turek said. 

Richardson said Park Center’s high ranking in State makes the loss easier on the team.

“Out of the top ten teams we play eight of them, so they are right there with some of the best teams in the state. To lose to the number four team in the state by eight is kind of a moral victory,” Richardson said. 

Turek said taking the season one game at a time, especially with high-ranked opponents, is key to staying positive despite having a losing record. 

“We’ve been working on confidence and being strong and the trust aspect, just taking it game by game,” Turek said. “A big thing our coaches tell us is we want to go 1-0, we’re gonna win the game for that day.

Segal said she is confident the team can pull out its first win in the next game. 

“Our record doesn’t really show how we’ve been playing,” Segal said. “We need to bring the energy and continue to play as a team and make some shots and we’ll be able to get our first win.”

Richardson said the losses early in the season are beneficial so the team can make the necessary improvements to have a successful end to the season. 

“It’ll help us when we get (to) conference play. The end goal is to be playing our best by March. So if we’re playing these difficult teams and figuring out what we need to work on, when we get to Sections and try to make our run for the State tournament we will be battle-tested,” Richardson said. 

Girls’ basketball heads into its home opener against Como Park 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at St. Louis Park High School.