It’s all in the family, basketball-style, for the Hughes clan at William Aberhart High School

William Aberhart's senior girls basketball team is 5-0 for the season so far, and one of the team’s veterans is leading the way.

This is India Hughes’s final year at Calgary’s William Aberhart High School, and the power forward would love to go out with a bang.

Aberhart is one of the top senior girls basketball teams in the city and Hughes thinks they have a good chance to win the city championship.

“It’s exciting and comforting to know that we have the skill to do it,” said the co-captain.

“We just need the practice and patience and chemistry for it all.”

Intensity

As co-captain, she leads by playing hard, and isn’t afraid to call out a teammate if necessary.

Orange head coach Paul D’Adamo said Hughes is ferocious when she’s on the basketball court.

“It’s just built for her, like a natural instinct,” said D’Adamo.

“She’ll get on the ground for the ball and she’ll dive out of bounds for the ball. She’ll pick up teammates and she’ll leave opponents who have fallen down,” he added.

“She’s got a balance of class and aggression that’s really hard to find.”

Family affair

Playing basketball at Aberhart runs in the Hughes family.

Hughes’s mom, Rohini, played from 1991-94.

Her three brothers and sister also suited up for the orange and white.

She said being the youngest gave her toughness.

All of her siblings were outstanding players.

“All of my siblings have won the Kevin Pelehos Award, which is Athlete of the Year for Grade 12,” she said.

“Ever since then, it’s been a little bit of pressure to get it, too. I’m trying and I’m working, but it’s also something we get to share as a family.”

Last Hughes to play

There’s a big age gap between the brothers and sisters.

Hughes is the last sibling to play for the Orange.

Her mom said she gets emotional thinking about that.

“It will be hard to watch when it ends, but it’s so fun when it’s happening,” Rohini Hughes said.

India Hughes said she wants to cherish every moment of her last year at Aberhart and on the basketball court.

It means a lot to her.

“I get to show my leadership through sports and I get to be in charge,” she said.

“I’m the youngest of five children, so a lot of my time was being told what to do by most of my older siblings. This is something for me.”