Coach Kimberly Contreras firmly believes that defense is the key to success on the court. Her philosophy on the court is very clear: establish a strong defense first and ensure that the team scores within ten seconds. The defense must work hard for the entire 30 seconds in order to ensure that the team has advantages of the 3-to-1 ratio. Coach Contreras’s expectations are that the defense sets the tone for the entire team. By having the team focus on defending first, score second mentality means that the team is working to set themselves up for success. This mantra has been preached during each practice and has translated to the games the Valley Christian Academy Girls Basketball teams have participated in. Furthermore, Coach Contreras has worked hard to instill a strong sense of grit, determination and hard work – all which are embodied in her coaching style and philosophy.