No matter the stage or scenario in a game of basketball, Maya Blomberg’s main objective is clear: get the ball to the teammate who has the best chance to put away a bucket. And it is this terrific trait which has made her a clear-cut choice for a proficient point guard for the Hand girls’ basketball team.

The senior tri-captain dabbled in dance, swimming, tennis, and soccer before the court was advised to her by a father of a friend around 4th grade. From there, Maya was marveled by the game and stuck to it.

Following three previous seasons with varsity experience and, more recently, being part of a Tigers’ team that claimed 22 total victories and made the SCC Tournament final and state tournament semifinal rounds a year ago, Maya makes her way back into the fold by running the point for Hand this winter.

“Last year, I did not play as a point guard as much. We have had some great point guards since I have been here,” says Maya, who also runs track in the spring for Hand. “Once it was brought to me that I would play more point this year, I knew I would have to put in work in the offseason with my dribbling and breaking down each play and how to get our offense going. Point guard is a little more stressful of a position, but it gives me the opportunity to decide what move is best for the team. I love putting in the work, because hard work brings success.”

Maya makes mention how her coaches have noticed her defensive prowess since she was a fresh-faced freshman, though she adds that in her role of running the point, the captain has grasped better ball-handling skills.

“One thing [Hand Head Coach Tim Tredwell] brought attention to when I was younger was how good I was at defense,” says Maya. “It has been my strong suit, and I’ve developed a defensive IQ, and it has shed a light into my progression. When bringing the ball up court, I look to pass more than shoot. Dribbling and shooting have also been some of my progressions. I think about who has the best chance to score based on the position they are in within that moment. In a defensive zone, I might give it to the shooting guard, or, against a zone with a wide open middle, I might give it to the center. Analyzing the defense is crucial as well.”

Now with Maya serving in a leadership role on the team, she champions four essential intangible tenets that will always prove critical in separating championship pretenders from contenders.

“I am so glad I got the opportunity to lead the team,” Maya says. “We want to focus on energy, effort, attitude, and communication. If we are working hard in practice and really pushing each other, we can go really far. Even if someone is having an off shooting day in practice, they can progress in other things like dribbling. It is the same with effort; you can’t give up. If you continue to put in the effort, you will get better. If someone has a bad attitude, it can bring a whole team down. And without communication, nothing can be learned from the mistakes that are made.”

Hand girls’ basketball Head Coach Tim Tredwell has seen Maya quickly move up the ranks of the Tigers’ program, coming out the other end as an even stronger and selfless teammate.

“Maya is such a special kid and an incredibly important player in our program. She has been playing meaningful varsity minutes for us since her freshman year so, as a senior, she enters the season with a wealth of experience,” says Tredwell. “After having her first three seasons affected by the pandemic, she is determined to make her final season at Hand a memorable one. A true pass-first point guard, her primary goal is to make sure everyone is taken care of both on and off the court. A leader with that kind of attitude and ability is such a valuable asset, and I’m so excited to see what she does this season.”

As the Tigers fell just a trio of triumphs short of achieving double championship glory last year, Maya and the rest of Hand are chomping at the bit to gain postseason hardware this winter. Yet she knows that it all starts with consistent cohesion from the cold days of December into the ides of March.

“Our goal is to make it to Mohegan [Sun Arena, site of CIAC state finals], and then hopefully win the finals for SCCs and states,” Maya says. “We also have to make sure the team stays connected. The team last year didn’t feel as connected towards the end of the season. We want to focus on making each other better. We have to have strong bonds and connections to help us be able to win championships.”