There’s a close connection between players on the 2011-12 Mount Si girls basketball team. Just ask the three seniors on the team, Jordan Riley, Alex Welsh and Shelby Peerboom.

The trio have played together since youth days, and agree that they do that well.

“That camaraderie translates to the court,” said Riley, who has played basketball since she was 4 years old. She is cousin to the Trent, Tanner and Tyson Rileys who have heated up the Mount Si court in recent years; Wildcat hoops are in her blood.

“My dad played here, my uncles played here. My dad is a basketball fanatic, and I’ve played my whole life. I love it.”

Welsh has tried other sports, but basketball is the one she’s always stuck with. She uses her experience to bring a positive attitude and help her teammates.

“Shelby is our rock,” Welsh said. “She’s very level-headed, keeps us going. Jordan speaks. She’s loud.”

“When something goes wrong, I try to bring everybody back in,” Riley said.

Peerboom is a hard worker, who has seen her teammates step up.

She’s excited to see teammates including Katie Lindor, Katie Swain and long-shot sniper Molly Sellers return.

Peerboom has a basketball superstition: All last season, she always put on her left shoe first. She plans to continue the quirk.

Riley wants to see the team go far, but stresses small steps.

“Our mindset has to be, win one quarter, one game at a time,” she said.

The team hosts the annual Wildcat Classic Basketball Tournament, Jan. 14 and 15.