SPOKANE, Wash– The Gonzaga Prep girls basketball team has been tearing through their competition and is ranked No. 1 in the Greater Spokane League’s 4A.
“We ask them to do stuff that’s really hard and they seem to enjoy trying to do it together,” head coach Geoff Arte said. “That’s the bigger lesson we’re trying to get out of basketball.”
That mindset shapes the culture inside the program, where players are encouraged to stay present.
“One of the things we’ve talked about this year is something we call the urgency of now,” Arte said. “We get too focused on the things that are down the road and not the process of how you get there.”
For junior Aylah Cornwall, that message carries a personal meaning. Cornwall earned all-state honors as a freshman but missed last season after suffering a major knee injury.
“Supporting them and their successes, they reciprocated that and supported mine,” Cornwall said. “Now coming back from recovery, they’ve just been there for me.”
Now back on the court, she embraces every opportunity, even as college offers are waiting for her.
“I like to understand that sure I have stuff going for me but also it’s important that you only go through high school once, you only get four years to live this out,” she said.
That perspective extends throughout the roster, especially among senior Laura Thompson.
“It’s just something that I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to find somewhere else,” Thompson said. “It’s something I’ve really cherished the last four years and just continuing to be grateful for every single day that I get to be in the gym with them.”
As the season continues, the Bullpups remain committed to their approach.
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