Junior Sarah Schneider has been playing basketball almost her whole life and contributes to Carlsbad’s varsity girl’s team as a post. This year she is one of the team captains and plans to duplicate the success from last year’s CIF Division II championship win.

LL: How did you get into basketball?

SS: When I was little, my dad bought me one of those toy hoops and I was obsessed with shooting and playing. After that, I started playing at the Boys and Girls Club, and then the Calavera league when I was old enough.

LL: How many years have you been playing?

SS: I’ve been playing since I was four and I don’t really intend on playing basketball after high school officially, but no matter where I go, I’ll always love to play if there’s a hoop and a ball.

LL: What is your favorite basketball memory?

SS: Last year when we played El Camino, we had a lot of intensity and it was a really competitive game. We were fighting the whole game and came out with the W. It was such a fun game to play in.

LL: What has been your biggest accomplishment in basketball?

SS: In basketball, I’ve really worked my way up in the program. I started on the freshman team, and then played on JV and now I’m on varsity, so making varsity was my biggest accomplishment.

LL: What is the best lesson you’ve learned from basketball?

SS: Basketball is so fast paced, so if you make a mistake, you just have to come back from it. I guess it’s kind of like life, you can’t dwell on the past, you have to look to the future. When you make a mistake you just have to make up for it and go balls to the wall.

LL: What is your favorite pump up song?

SS: “El Chapo” by Skrillex. Our whole team gets really pumped up to that song before games.

LL: Who is your biggest inspiration?

SS: Probably my mom because when I was in sixth grade, she was diagnosed with a pretty hectic cancer, and she just pushed through and stayed strong. She always says, “Everyday will bring something better. Stay strong and be happy.” Whenever, I’m sad I always think of that and think of the tough time she went through and how strong she was. We got through it as a family so she’s such a huge inspiration.

LL: Anything else?

SS: We just want to win the ship this year. Come out and support girls basketball.