Beyond Talent: South River Girls Basketball’s 2025 Path to a Championship

For ten years, Lead ‘Em Up has worked to develop leaders and build cohesive teams. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re looking back at some of the championship teams that exemplify the power of culture and leadership.

Next up in our series is the South River Girls Basketball team, a program that had the talent to be great, but found its true championship potential by focusing on unity and leadership. Under Head Coach Mike Zivic, the team captured the 2025 3A state championship, proving that a strong culture is just as important as skill.

We sat down with senior players Skylar Woodward and Samie Clark to get their perspective on what made this season so special.

Realizing Their Potential

From the beginning, the South River team knew they had all the pieces to be a championship contender. They had the talent and the drive, but they needed a way to bring it all together. The key was a program that helped them dig deeper into who they were as a team.

According to senior Samie Clark, Lead ‘Em Up provided the tools they needed to reach their goals. “The whole focus on Lead ‘Em Up made our team realize leadership roles and really dive deep into who we were as a team,” Samie said. “We knew we could potentially be great, this helped us get there.”

This process helped them realize that their greatness wouldn’t come from individual skill alone, but from a collective buy-in to a shared vision.

A Common Language for Unity

A major part of their championship journey was creating a culture that eliminated negativity and drama. The team found a powerful solution in the “Green Team” concept, where everyone is focused on supporting one another.

“The program helped us understand what it really means to be a ‘Green Team’, where everyone stays positive, accountable, and focused on lifting each other up,” senior Skylar Woodward explained.

This simple framework gave the team a shared language to maintain a positive environment. “It also gave us a common language to call out bad habits,” Skylar said. “It definitely helped us stay united and avoid the drama that used to hold us back.” This newfound unity was essential to their success on the court.

Ultimately, the South River Girls Basketball team’s championship was the result of a powerful combination of talent and a true commitment to culture. By using the Lead ‘Em Up program to realize their leadership roles and unite as a “Green Team,” they were able to turn their potential into a reality, proving that the real power of a team is found in its connection.