Seventeen-year-old Rita Kenjoian feels confident during her basketball games when her family is there to watch her play for the Birmingham Community Charter High School varsity team.

“They come to almost all of my games,” said Kenjoian, a senior. “They cheer me on and after they give me advice for the next game.”

Her team ranks 3,246 in the nation’s top basketball teams and a state of California rank of 307. This past season, they’ve won and lost three home games and have won four away games and lost three.

Kenjoian is the shooting guard and small forward on the team. At a special banquet held for the varsity and junior varsity on April 24, Kenjoian won an award for ‘Best Offensive Player.”

“I think I did okay, maybe a little better than usual,” Kenjoian said.

Alexandra Obiekea, the newest member of the Birmingham Community Charter High School girls basketball team, has been nothing but successful during her athletic season making it to the first round of playoffs.

Growing up  in a family that was very involved in sports made her look into playing basketball. Obiekea started playing basketball at the age of 5. She started played pee wee basketball and continued playing all through her high school life. Her mother is her motivation. She played through injury and make Obiekea realize that she shouldn’t give up.

“She is an amazing post player and her being on the court increased possessions,” says former teammate Jessica Ramos.

Obiekea has stopped playing due to a knee injury. However, she would still like to be involved in sports. Her goal is to become a sports journalist in the future.

“Just do it, don’t be scared. Work hard, practice, and you will be fine,” Obieka says to those who plan on pursuing in basketball.

Sophomore Jessica Ramos started playing basketball when she was 7 years old and never looked back.

Ramos, 16 years old, is currently a point-guard for the junior varsity (JV) squad and averages about 6 to 7 points a game.

“I think that the hardest team we’ve ever played were Granada,” Ramos said.

When Ramos saw basketball for the first time, there was an automatic attraction and was thrilled to start balling-it-up.

 “The Clippers are the best team and I love Blake Griffin,” Ramos said.

Ramos’s biggest fan is her loving mom, but her friends and family support her, too.

Monica Hernandez, a sophomore, discovered her passion for basketball last summer at Balboa Park. She played there with her family and realized she had a knack for the sport.

“I wanted to try something different and see what other sports I’m good at,” Hernandez said.

In the games, Hernandez plays the post position on the junior varsity team at Birmingham Community Charter High School. She excels at getting rebounds and playing defense.

Since her dad is a fan of basketball, he likes to cheer her on during her games.

“My dad motivates me because he’s very passionate about basketball,” Hernandez said.

Keeping up with her sports and her studying, Julia Torres tries hard to do well in every way possible.

Torres is on the basketball team at Birmingham Community Charter High School where she competes with other schools and practices with her junior varsity team.

“When I play basketball, it brings up my mood and makes me feel confident. Basketball is like my escape,” Torres said.

Even though Torres is a very good basketball player, she tries hard to keep up with other players.

“I struggle sometimes trying to keep up with varsity players and their levels of experience. I also struggle to keep up with my schoolwork because sometimes we practice so late that I barely have any time to study,” Torres said.

Torres goes to practice five times a week after school till 5:30 p.m. and then she studies. She also used to play with the Balboa Park team where she won the Los Angeles tournament.

“Basketball builds up my confidence because when you do good, the crowd and cheerleaders and the coach really pump you up. It’s exhilarating,” Torres said.