For the past few weeks, the athletes of the Dartmouth Girls Athletic League recreational basketball program have been hard at working, honing in on their skills, learning new drills and having fun.

Steve DaCosta, the program’s commissioner, said approximately 200 girls signed up this year, bringing their three-division program up from past years. He added the organization additionally looks to host a K1 clinic in January.

“At the beginning of the year, at the first practice, we always say by the end of the year we just want to improve on everything that we work on throughout the season.”

He and fellow Kansas State team coach Karen Watson were overseeing practice at the Dartmouth Middle School gym Friday, Dec. 20, when they spoke on the value of a recreational basketball program for girls.

Both with daughters on the team, they said the program is all about learning the fundamentals, having fun and growing together as a team.

“It’s so great to see the girls progress,” Watson said. “All these girls have been together since kindergarten and first grade and we’ve watched them grow from little, little tiny girls who couldn’t even reach the hoop to [girls who] really understand the game of basketball.”

DaCosta said he can already see the girls improving this season as they prepare a lot of them for high school. He highlighted the hit that the girls basketball program has taken at the high school over the years, and seeing the rec program’s number increase makes him hopeful for the future. He added he hopes to see a future where there are full freshmen, junior varsity and varsity girls basketball teams at the high school.

Watson said, “Win or lose, they are always having fun on the court.”

Their daughters, Maddie DaCosta and Rebecca Watson have both played basketball since they were little girls.

Maddie reminisced on last season when the girls won the championship game — her lucky game ball being a part. 

Despite playing the sport for so long, she said, “I like that it’s never the same. The game always ends differently.”

Rebecca said, “I love being able to play with my friends and making new friends and all the experiences.”

Coaching another of the program’s team’s, Ernie Nicholson said his team is young and has seen a mix of good and bad games so far. 

“Every season is so unique,” he said, adding that the team is still working out its chemistry.

Shylee Turger said she’s been playing basketball for about six years because “I just find it fun.”

Turger said this is “probably one of the best teams I’ve had,” adding she feels she’s been on many younger and more experienced teams in comparison.