Playing in your first it-counts-in-the-standings athletic game can be quite a daunting task. But for Pearl City’s Adriene Jean Sylva she welcomes the challenge.

The sophomore guard played in her first league varsity girls basketball game On Tuesday night against host Campbell to start off the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Division race.
 
Known as AJ by her teammates, Sylva scored her first points on back-to-back layups off steal at the four minute mark of the second quarter. Coaches around the OIA league consider Sylva as a potential future star capable of evolving into one of the league’s leading scorers by the time of her senior year.
 
In comments just before the opening tipoff, Sylva’s viewpoint was, ‘Everyone gets butterflies in their stomach so it’s not an uncommon thing. Tonight I’m just going to go out there and play as best as I can. But most of all I hope to play great defense to help my team win.”
 
Sylva added, “I’ve been playing since the fifth grade so to me basketball is a fun sport to play. Every year I have steadily improved to a higher level as far as my overall ability to compete against good players.”
 
She says that her father, Pearl City assistant basketball coach Jay Sylva, has been an inspiration to her in showing support. “Growing up I found myself wanting to play basketball. Once my dad saw that this was what I wanted to do, he provided great support in helping me improve my game,” expressed Sylva.

Being a sophomore on a senior-laden squad, Sylva knows that she will have to work hard in future practices to earn more playing time. As she gets older, Sylva says she plans to work on her dribbling skills as well as shooting so she can increase her role on the team.  
 
“My teammates are tough and they don’t let up on me in practice. I’m not the top scorer, but I’m not the yuckiest person on my team either. But I know I need to learn how to get tougher so I can compete in the OIA. Playing in today’s (league) game is the first step in that direction,” commented Sylva, who finished the game with six points.
 
The Chargers were victorious in this game against Campbell.. They led from the opening minutes to triumph 41-26. Pearl City had a successful preseason winning seven of their first eight non-conference games, including a 34-28 victory over defending Division 2 state champion Molokai.