Grit. Defense. Teamwork. 

Those are the values the Natick Girls Basketball team holds close as they finished another remarkable season in 2025-26.

Natick’s Head Coach Oryx Cohen has done a phenomenal job leading by example and coaching the team the right way ever since Natick High took a chance on him three years ago.

However, this year had presented him with a new challenge. “We had some amazing seniors who graduated that helped us have a huge turnaround season,” Cohen explained. With only one senior on the team coming into the 2025-26 season, players would have to step up in order to lead the team to where it expects to be.

Enter Bridget Pole and Katie McMahon. Pole (junior) and McMahon (senior) both stepped up huge for this team, not only on the court, but off the court as well.

“Everyone just gets along really well. We’re a really close group,” Pole explained. McMahon also described the team as “a fun experience. Watching the players and team grow, our team environment is super great.”

This type of team camaraderie and desire to improve carried into the season, making it one to remember. “Pretty much everybody on the team now plays basketball year-round,” Cohen said. “So I expected us to be even better than we were last year.”

Coming into the season, expectations were already sky high for the Red Hawks. Having won the Bay State Carey Division and Roundball Classic last season, the team has come into the season with an understanding that there is a new standard.

“We kind of have a target on our back going into this season,” Pole said. “We lost a few of our seniors, so our team is pretty young. However, I think we have done a great job adjusting to that and adjusting to the pressure while living up to what we want Natick Basketball to be like.”

The Red Hawks found a way to fight through the adversity and pressure and started the season off extremely strong. “Our younger players have really stepped up. It’s great to see us kind of proving ourselves to people who doubted how we were going to be this year with our record so far,” McMahon said.

“Our main thing this year was our defense,” Pole added. “We’re a really high-pressure, high-intensity team. We also really like to run and beat teams down the floor, which is a huge advantage for us when we’re playing other tough teams.”

Not only is their record atop the league impressive enough, but the Red Hawks have already come away with a trophy, as they secured a tournament win at the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic for the second time in program history.

“Honestly, it feels amazing,” Coach Cohen described. “When you win a tournament like that, it’s something no one can ever take away from you. The team worked extremely hard for it. Our team played three really tough games and showed a lot of reliance and character while responding to adversity in each of those three games.”

McMahon also received a scholarship as a result of the tournament, which is given out to a senior each year on every team, according to Coach Cohen. A big honor for a well-deserving player. 

Despite all the success the Red Hawks found this season, what is most impressive about this team is the way they remained focused under pressure. Often, when a team finds this kind of success midseason, the goals and expectations that are set can get lost in the fray.

Not for the Red Hawks. This team understood what they could accomplish this season and did not waver from the ultimate goal of defending their state title. They were ready to compete at the highest level and were able to achieve all of their goals.

As a result of what was a tremendous season, Coach Cohen was eager to shout out many other players who have made a significant impact on the team’s success. 

With players like CC Curran (sophomore) stepping up in a starting role, Sam Dunlap (freshmen) bringing energy as the sixth woman, Harper Higgins (freshmen) showing early signs of stardom, and Emilia Sousa being the defensive ball hawk, this team had every making of a well-rounded team with little weakness.

This team is built for sustained success and has genuine chemistry. Cohen stated. 

“The players know exactly what their roles are. There is no selfishness, no ‘I need to score now.’ It’s all within a team culture in which they share the ball. There’s just been so many beautiful plays where they’re making the extra pass. That’s what makes this team special.”

By season’s end, Natick Girls Basketball finished 18-5 and became back-to-back Carey Division champions for the first time in program history. The team also made it to the Elite 8 for the third time in program history.

Natick Girls Basketball also came away with multiple awards and achievements.

Sophomore Kayla Dunlap led D1 in scoring with 21 points per game and was selected a Bay State All Star for the 2nd consecutive year. She was also selected as the Bay State Carey Division MVP. 

Junior Denai Williams had a breakout season as well and was selected as a Bay State All Star for the first time. Finally, Pole had another amazing season and was selected to be a Bay State All Star for the second straight year.