Caleb Gottry attends Chandler Preparatory Academy and is a member of the AIA’s Student SID program.

The Chandler Prep Titans girls basketball team graduates three seniors this year. One, Tatum McDonald, was part of the varsity team since freshman year, and the other two, Mia Evers and Emily Curran, were trying high school basketball for the first time. The Titan senior community and parents honored these three seniors, and read aloud were their responses to four prompts. The following are some of the responses that stood out. Titan Up.

Question: What is your favorite memory or moment as a part of Chandler Prep basketball?

Mia Evers (#11): There are so many great memories from this season! One of my favorites is when Emily shot for a three and then totally face-planted. I re-watched the video too many times. I love hearing all of Jane’s weird sound effects and talking about the new Euphoria episodes with Taryn. Listening to the High School Musical soundtrack before a game was so fun. Scoring my first points ever in a game was pretty rad, too.

Question: What do you want to say to your team?

Tatum McDonald (#34): This team is so special to me. We all get along so well, and I love how we support and encourage one another every day. I am so proud of our huge improvement, and I can not wait to see where you guys go next year. I want to thank each and every one of you for always working so hard and showing up for the team. You guys always find new ways to make me laugh, and I am so happy I get to go out with girls by my side. I want to thank my little sister Jillian for helping me lead the team this year alongside me as team captains, and I also want to thank Mia and Em for joining the team this year and not leaving me as the only senior on the basketball team. My three pieces of advice going forward are: play Never Say Never by Justin Bieber whenever your shots are not falling, always love and encourage one another, and make your dang layups.

ME: You guys have truly made this season so much fun. Thank you for always helping and explaining things to me when I am very confused, which is often. I love all our chats about the gossip in the different grades and our team lunches. I hope you all keep having fun with basketball as a team, and if you are deciding whether or not to try a sport, do it, because you will have so much fun and meet great people!

Question: What do you want to say to your parents?

Emily Curran (#32): Thank you for supporting me endlessly. No matter what I do, I know that you guys will be there to back me up. When I said I wanted to play basketball, I got the sense that you didn’t believe me, but once the season started, you were all in. I love you guys and appreciate all you’ve sacrificed and everything you’ve done for me. Thank you.

Question: What do you want to say to the coaches?

TM: You have made my senior year of basketball one I will never forget. I especially want to thank Coach LeFebre for taking on this position when we needed him most. You treat us girls with so much love and respect, and you have implemented camaraderie, sportsmanship, and accountability into this team. You come into every practice and game with a positive mindset, and I appreciate how much faith and trust you have put into me this year. Coach Jayne, thank you for being my coach since I was in middle school. You are such a strong female role model for us girls, and I appreciate you continuing to encourage me when I am getting frustrated with myself. Thank you both for making sacrifices to be here as our coaches, for caring for each and every single one of your players, and for always believing in this team.

EC: When I started basketball this year, to be honest, I was not expecting much from myself. I knew, of course, that I would provide energy and be, as coach put it, the “minister of flavor,” but I didn’t believe that I would have any skills. Both of you encouraged me endlessly, and even though I was new from the first day, I felt like a part of the family. The dynamic that you guys create not only helps all of us progress as players, but as people. Thank you so much for all that you have done for me. I wish that we could’ve had more time together.