WEST MILFORD For the first time in school history, the West Milford Highlanders graduated an entire starting lineup in girls’ basketball. The hole left head coach Ray LaCroix with the huge task of reassembling a team from the ground up. “I only have three kids who played any significant amount of varsity time,” LaCroix said. “I would have had four, but one of our seniors, Lena Feldman tore [ligaments in her knee] during the summer playing soccer, so she is out for the year.” The loss of Feldman, particularly in a year light on varsity experience, could have been a crippling blow if the dedicated senior captain allowed it to be. Lucky for the Highlanders, the injured leader is still a presence on the team. “She is with us except for when she has physical therapy,” LaCroix said. That leaves the captain’s field duties to another capable senior. “I have Christina Jimenez,” LaCroix said. “Christina is also a pitcher for the softball team.” For Jimenez, adjusting to being a captain has been a smooth transition. “It is a new experience for me. But now I get to see the younger girls that are coming up look up to me and I get to lead them in a different way than before,” the senior said. “You have the right to tell them things and point out things to them if a coach doesn’t see it. It is a nice feeling because you feel that the girls look up to you.” Indeed, the Highlanders are a different team when Jimenez is on the floor. The aggressive senior makes scoring opportunities with quick hands, and a natural ability to see the floor. The captain is also very aware of the responsibility being a leader entails. “You know that they take their cues off of you. So you know that if you aren’t up, then they aren’t going to be up,” Jimenez said. “And that really puts the pressure on you and makes you better.” Despite the injury to her co-captain, Jimenez never feels she is alone. “It doesn’t really matter whether Lena is playing or not, she is still a captain. She helps support us because she always at practice and on the sidelines when she isn’t at therapy,” the senior said. “And she speaks up and says what is on her mind.”