New coach has Eagles girls hoops flying high

Under new coach Rashaan Foster, the CFCA girls basketball team has raced out to an impressive 5-1 start this winter.

The Eagles were dealt their first loss of the season Dec. 3 against International Community School (5-2), 55-43. Despite tasting defeat for the first time, Foster was pleased with his team’s effort and optimistic about its outlook early in his first season at the helm.

“It was a tough one, but (we had) a short bench, and ICS is a very good team,” Foster said. “I’m OK with where we’re at.”

Foster previously coached for four years at Southland Christian School in Kissimmee. There, he built a winning program that went a combined 36-2 in 2014 and 2015 and won the Florida Christian Conference’s state championship. Now leading the Eagles, he hopes to recreate that success.

“Coming off two, back-to-back state titles in the Florida Christian Conference, I know a winner when I see it,” Foster said. “This team is a winner. They get along well, they pick each other up. … I love the school — the vision and direction.”

CFCA’s strong start has come despite its short bench, with nearly half of his roster consisting of sophomores or younger — including two middle-schoolers. Still, he has been pleased with his team’s defense, something he wants to make a hallmark of his program at CFCA.

With the youth present on the Eagles’ roster, Foster noted he will be relying heavily on seniors Destiny Reimnitz and Aubrey Muench, both of whom are talented scorers and played well in the loss to ICS.

Although his team was playing through fatigue, Foster pointed to a run in the third quarter against the Comets that showcased how good his girls can be once they have heated up.

“Tonight really showed us that, once we get our conditioning down, we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with,” he said.

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].