There are few certainties in the sporting world.

One is that every season, regardless of success, will offer new and unique challenges for a team to deal with, whether it be internal turmoil or injuries, it is all part of the process.

The degree of adversity that affects a team is also variable; some get lucky, others not so much.

The Murray girls' basketball team was given a tough task this year and, despite another first-round playoff exit, performed admirably.

With a season loaded with potential, the Spartans hit the ground running and promptly fell face first. They didn't win once in the first 10 games of the season. With a start like that, it seemed apparent success just wasn't in the cards this year.

But what a change 2010 brought. Region 2 wasn't the most competitive of the state, and Murray took full advantage to get back on track. Only Skyline was able to stop the Spartans for the rest of the regular season, losing to the Eagles twice and finishing second in the region with a 9-3 record.

The Spartans had officially become the Cinderella team of the year.

Too bad the they didn't even get through the first dance before the clock struck midnight.

Fremont was the team responsible for ending Murray's season. It turned out to be a microcosm of the Spartans' entire season; for four quarters and two overtimes the Spartans managed to take leads, give them up and come back just in time to play some more. Just like they had done all season. Everything came to a point in the second overtime, however, as the Spartans finally ran out of gas and got outscored 10-1 on their home court.

Coach Issachar Beh carefully used the word "disappointing" to describe the Spartans' season. On one hand, he is proud they made it out of the 0-10 hole. On the other, he always knew his team has a lot of talent and potential.

"It just goes to show you can always change the course of the season," Beh said. "You're always in control of what you do and how you approach things and how hard you work and your own attitude. As long as you keep those in the right perspective then good things will eventually go the way you want regardless of who you're playing."

Senior Mariah Duran proved to be the one constant through the year. She finished shooting 47 percent from the three-point line, solidifying her reputation as one of the top shooters in the state. When the Spartans begin preparations for next season, it will be Duran's spot that proves most difficult to fill.

Measha Meier and Sarah Baron round out the starting seniors that will be replaced on the relatively young Spartans' roster. Much of the scoring load will be handed down to Maddy Woodard and Candace Prestwich. Freshman Lauren Bell, who finished as the highest scorer in the Fremont loss, was injured for most of the last month but proved she will be more than capable of playing at a high level on a nightly basis as a sophomore. Courtney Beavers, another promising freshman, came off the bench and played a lot of key minutes when the Spartans were going through an injury spell.

The Spartans will have a lot to look back on from their memorable season and most of it will be bad, from the 0-10 start to the 13 point lead they held over Fremont in the second half. However short they may have fallen of their goals, though, the Spartans' season should be remembered for overcoming more adversity than most teams care to try.