NORTH BRANCH, Mich. — North Branch Varsity Girls Basketball Team is led by Coach Tim Gormley, as well as Team Captains Bailey Gormley, Natasha Bickel, and Mattie Smith. “The captains are a vital part of success due to their leadership and kindness to everyone on and off the court” says teammate Lilian Osborne. During the 21-22 year season, the Lady Broncos were an extremely young team and did not graduate any seniors leaving a strong foundation for this year’s team. The last time the North Branch Varsity Girls won league was in 1989; and guess what, they’ve won league again. After a win against Imlay City, the Lady Broncos have secured the league title and advanced their current record to 18-2. That knocks one item off their list of goals, but the team is pursuing District and Regional wins, if not more!

A typical game day includes shooting around in the gym before school, a team dinner after school that always includes chocolate milk, and then heading to the gym to support the Junior Varsity team. They then gather in the locker room to hang out and pray as a team, switching who leads prayer from person to person each game. The team also has matching water bottles ordered by Captain Bailey Gormely, and after a win, they add an additional basketball sticker to the bottle, and I’d say it’s getting pretty full. The excitement is evident through chatter, jokes, laughter, and smiles in the locker room after an exhilarating win or practice and fuels the hunger for more success.

Their motivation comes from the goals they’ve set and the outcomes they would like to achieve. The Lady Broncos have high aspirations and the drive to obtain them. Lilian Osborne says, “It’s exciting to see all the hard work pay off. We work so well together. Typically your normal basketball team would only see each other on the court but not us. We have went to a SC4 girls basketball game as a team bonding experience. It even goes beyond basketball with going to our snow coming together. We are more than just a team. We’re a family.” There is, however, room in the family. New teammates on the team receive the same treatment as everyone else. The upperclassman takes them under their wing and guides them as they play.

A cohesive team makes all the difference, and the North Branch Lady Broncos are the prime example of what a team is supposed to be. If you’re looking for a good game to go to and watch and for post-season play, keep your eyes and ears open for the NB team. They’ve got more goals to achieve, the passion to execute, and the leadership to guide them the entire way.

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