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The “family dynamic” phrase, in all its variations, gets thrown around a lot in sports. For Valencia girls basketball, it’s more than a cliche: it’s literal.
The Vikings have three sets of sisters on the team in Alyssa and Chelsea Besina, Libby and Olivia Oxciano, and Cara and Hailey McKell. On the coaching staff, Riley and Kenadee are assistants to their father, Kevin Honaker, who’s the head coach.
“We have six people that are really connected and know each other,” Honaker said of the sisters. “And it is helpful because each of the sisters are very demanding upon themselves and to each other.”
Valencia players and coaches have noticed a sibling telepathy that each sister tends to have with her counterpart. They’re more competitive with each other than with anyone else on the team, communicate well and can most times predict the other’s emotions.
It’s there regardless of how much time they’ve spent in games with the other. Libby and Olivia, a junior and a sophomore, respectively, grew up practicing together but have never played on the same team until this year.
Cara and Hailey, a freshman and senior, are also playing together for the first time. Hailey had transitioned to volleyball, which was the focus all through high school until this year.
“I decided to play just for fun, to grow those memories with (Cara),” Hailey said. “I realized it would be fun to look back and be like, and think of all these memories I made with her, not just at home, but like doing something like basketball and in a team environment.”
The new sister additions have worked in the Vikings’ favor this season. They tied for second place in the Foothill League and have their first CIF Southern Section Division 3AA playoff game on Thursday at Holy Martyrs Armenian.
The comfort level between sisters means easier communication, which has resulted in player and skill…
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