The PBHS Varsity Girls’ Basketball team did not have much to improve upon this year, as last year’s record and championship were a pretty solid success.  However, the team has outdone itself this year and found a way to improve upon those gaudy achievements from last year.

This year’s team recorded an impressive 29 – 1 record, with their only loss coming against undefeated Whitman High School.

With their win last night in the regional finals, PB built on to what has been an impressive run of success.  This was the fourth straight trip for the PB Varsity Girls’ Basketball Team to the regional championship round and their regional championship in the last few years.

On her fourth and ongoing years as a Head Coach, Rochelle Coleman and her assistant staffs have this year’s squad on the verge of a state championship, which they begin the pursuit of by playing Old Mill High School on March 12^th, 2015 at Towson University.

One of the shining lights on this year’s dominant team is junior Sofilia Ngwafang, aka   “Sof.”

Ngwafang began her high-school career playing for the rival, Blake High School Bengals before moving to Paint Branch during her sophomore year. She joined the basketball team that year and has faced many challenges, such as staying focused and playing up to the standard everyone believes she can achieve. This level was hard to achieve for Ngwafang who has only played organized basketball for five years.

Sof, states, “It was really hard for me… because I had never played any type of sport. It wasn’t even a thought of mine to do something like that.”

Sof started playing in the seventh grade and has evolved in her game to become a starter on a dominant team. Although she has faced many challenges, she says her father motivates and influences her because he is one of the people who pushed her to become better. “I want to make it big in the same way [as her father] to show him that all his sacrifice wasn’t wasted,” she says.

Sofilia says the best part about the game is playing with her teammates and learning something new from different players. “I love it because there’s always something new to learn.”

She might have days when she gets sick or does not feel well, but that doesn’t stop her from showing love and support for her team/family. Though Sofilia may face new challenges every day, she fights her way through them and advises anybody who plans on being a professional athlete or might just want to participate in any sport for fun, to  never give up on themselves no matter how hard it is or gets. “Once you fall in love with the sport that you do, it becomes a part of you,” she says. “There will be days where you want to drop everything and give up, but you shouldn’t because you can’t see your life without it.”

Amel Ngwafang, Sofilia’s sister, is a freshman at PB who happens to be on the girls JV basketball team. She also happens to be one of Sofilia’s biggest fans and cheers her on during her games. You’ll notice her if you attend the girls’ game, because she’s the loudest one. Amel follows in her sister’s footsteps and is the voice of the voiceless during her games. As for whether or not Sofilia ever thought about playing or challenging her sister, she says she does not like playing against her, but she’s willing to teach.

After high school, Sofilia plans on attending a four-year college and playing basketball while also focusing on her school-work. She notes, “The best part about playing the game is playing together and learning a lot from some of the best players in the states. I love it because there’s always something new to learn.”