Senior Avery Gall, a forward on the Indian Hills Girls Basketball team, has been part of the program since her freshman year. She’s played basketball for her whole life and loves the sport. The season has been going well for her so far, and despite having lost some players to injuries, others have stepped up to support the team, according to Gall.

Gall values her team and believes they work well together. They are capable of impressive performances on the court and hard work in training without sacrificing fun. Iris Pascual, a junior on the team, says, “Avery is our only senior at the moment, and she does a really good job of keeping us all in check and motivated. It’s a lot of pressure, but she’s always so optimistic and strong for the team, I really appreciate that about her. She has stepped into that leadership role really well.”

When asked about pre-game rituals or customs, Gall answered, “At games, we’ll do a pre-game speech, talk about how we’ll play this game and be like, ‘we’re all in this together,’ and then we say it together and clap.” 

The pasta dinners the team has before big games are one of Gall’s favorite traditions. Either at Frank’s Pizza or one of the players’ houses, Gall says the dinners are a lot of fun and eating together before the big game is a great way to boost morale. 

Off the court, Gall enjoys art and listening to music. Some of her favorite artists include Muse and Clairo–she’s seen Muse and TV Girl in concert. 

While she doesn’t plan to play basketball professionally, Gall hopes to continue playing in the future through intramural leagues. Reflecting on her experience, she advises younger and aspiring basketball players to “commit yourself to the sport, work in the off season, and talk to your coaches.” 

Through her leadership, optimism, and dedication to her sport, Gall plays a key role in the team’s success and will leave behind a lasting impact on her teammates.