As the Weston Ranch girls basketball team heads into the VOL, the Cougars will rely on junior Janay Holmes to lead the way. A 5’11” junior, Holmes hopes her experience and determination will help guide her and her teammates to bigger and better days.
The Lady Cougars have been struggling lately, both on and off the court. On the court, the victories have been inconsistent. Off the court, Holmes and her teammates have had to deal with cancellations due to the rising surge of Covid-19 related issues. But, for Holmes, this is still a great time to be a basketball player at Weston Ranch, and she demonstrates great character on and off the court.
“I enjoy playing basketball,” Holmes told The Prowl. “We’re not playing enough right now, and Covid has taken the fun out of the playing. But, basketball is a good way to forget about life’s problems, and I go out every game and try to be as happy as I can.”
Holmes knew she loved basketball very early and began playing the game at age four. As her abilities improved, she was able to join Travel Teams when she reached age 12 to help her refine her skills. In addition to playing at a higher level, Holmes has traveled all over the United States, thus giving her early exposure to college coaches. She dreams about continuing her playing at the next level.
“I’ve been all over the country,” Holmes said. “I’ve been to New York, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas, to name a few. Playing in these areas has helped me get connected to colleges. I’ve heard from UC Merced, Georgia Tech, and CS Monterey Bay. It’s very exciting.”
And as Holmes prepares to get to the next level, she has never lost sight of what inspires and motivates her to keep going.
“My dad inspires me,” she said. “He works long hours but never misses out on a chance to help me. He gives me pep talks, helps me train, and helps me look for ways to improve as a basketball player.”
For now, the focus for Holmes and her team is getting better here at Weston Ranch. The junior is averaging 14 points and three assists per game. While her statistics are impressive, she never loses sight of the team dynamic.
“Our team is super supportive of one another,” she said. “We’re always there to help each other. Since we practice at 6:30 in the morning, it’s tough to get out of bed for morning workouts. Someone always sends texts to remind us to get to practice because we know it’s important.”
Catch Holmes and the Cougars tonight at home for their game against Manteca High School.
