OAKWOOD CHRISTIAN LADY EAGLES
in the finals.
Now the challenge for the Lady Eagles is simple - repeat.
“It’s a pretty sweet feeling trying to obtain something and already knowing what it’s like,” head coach Kraig Givens said. “You get a taste of something like that and you want to continue that. There’s some pressure now, like we’ve set a standard, and anything less than that will be disappointing, but that’s fine. These girls know what winning a championship is like now and they are going to be pushing to do it again.”
Givens said he thinks his team will respond well to challenge, despite the loss of three valuable seniors, including Annika Green, arguably the best player in school history. He said the team’s performance in a preseason jamboree against conference foes in early November was solid.
“I thought we did very well and looked very good,” he said. “I was curious to see what we were going to look like and what kind of identity we would have without the three players that we lost. Maybe it was the success in winning the championship last year, but they looked like we didn’t lose anybody. They played incredible defense, which is going to be the name of our game again this year.”
The lone senior on this year’s team is Mary Ownby, who will play at point guard as well as on the wing. Green put on a defensive clinic in last year’s SCAA title game and joined Green in earning All-tournament honors.
“She’s been playing for me ever since she was in the seventh grade,” Givens explained. “You get nothing but consistency from her. She knows exactly what you’re talking about because she’s been through it all and she knows all the plays. She’s also a great leader, on and off the floor, and she just has a knack for people wanting to follow her. She says and does the right things and she’ll do a great job.”
The team’s only other upperclassman is junior Lexie Asher. A strong player in the paint, Asher is primed for a breakout year as her understanding of the game has increased.
Among the sophomores, point guard Grayson Broadrick is an excellent ball- handler who has a knack for finding the open spot on the perimeter. She is among the team’s best outside shooters. Another outstanding shooter is Lily Green, who can play at the post or at a guard spot. Green is also an excellent rebounder.
The other two sophomores are standouts on defense. Guard Raleigh Suits might be the team’s best overall defender due to her quickness and tenacity, while Callie Ray knows how to box out on the defensive boards and is adept at all the intangibles. Ray may play some at guard, but will see much more time in the post.
The roster is rounded out by a trio of freshmen who all look to be on track to earn plenty of playing time.
Guard Mckenley Baggett is nursing a recent injury, but when healthy will give the Lady Eagles a solid shooter that is also quick and athletic on defense. Avery Green will back up Ownby at the point. Another athletic guard, Givens has been impressed with her knowledge of the game, while second-year player, Anslee Tucker, has plenty of speed and possesses a nice touch on her shot. Givens says Tucker is becoming more of an offensive-minded player.
“Great defense has to be our focus,” added Givens, who will be joined on the bench by wife, Ashleigh. “Offensively, I think we’ve got some good pieces to move around as the girls have gotten older and that’s going to enable our offense to do more. But the keys to our season are defense and hard work.
“Over the years as I have looked back, we are most successful when we have the energy that we need from one week to the next. We’re working on our offense, but as long as we have that energy and we’re working hard in games, our defense is top-notch.”