Ten wins. A district championship. School history. For the first time ever, the varsity girls basketball team won the district title, finishing 10-2.

“Our team’s been so successful this year because of the teamwork definitely,” senior Mariah Merriweather said. “The chemistry we have, the positivity we keep between each other and the dedication we put in. We believe we’re going to win.”

The team started the season strong, going 10-5 in their pre-district games.

“We worked really hard and practiced intensely every single day, every single minute,” senior Deja Beechum said. “We were just coming together as a team.”

The teamwork paid off as the girls won eight district games in a row, including a close 56-55 win at Vista Ridge.

“We won that game by one point in the last seconds of the game,” varsity girls basketball coach Lori McDonald said. “The girls were focused and determined and it really made a difference in the end.”

The win streak ended with back-to-back losses to Dripping Springs and Leander in the second round of district.

“Obviously it’s not fun to lose, nobody wants to lose,” senior Baylee Peck said. “But it was a good wake-up call. You know, we were getting complacent with winning a lot and I think it was a good wake-up call to have before going into playoffs.”

The team quickly bounced back, winning their final two games against Marble Falls and Cedar Park. After the 49-38 Cedar Park win, the girls cut down the nets, honored their seniors and celebrated their district championship with friends and family.

“Winning district is a big deal since we are the first team at Rouse to be district champs,” Peck said. “This team all year has said ‘What do you want your legacy to be?’ And winning district is just the beginning of our legacy.”

The team’s success shows how far the team has come in the last four years, especially for the seniors.

“It’s really awesome being a senior on our last year because we started out not so good freshman year, not winning a lot,” Peck said. “So it’s really awesome to be able to go out on a strong note with all of these girls and have stuff to look back on, not just winning, but all of the team bonding we’ve had and the team experiences we’ve shared with each other.”

The team is now in the playoffs for the second year in a row. They play the first round game at home Monday against Austin Reagan. The girls have their eyes set on a deep run in the playoffs.

“Our goal all year has been to make it to the regional tournament because once you’re there, anything can happen,” McDonald said. “The girls have worked hard, not just this year, but for the past three to four years and I think they deserve to reap the benefits of that hard work.”