by Team of the Year
Olmsted Falls
This shouldn’t come as much of a shock to anyone. They remind me a lot of the 1980’s Bad Boy Pistons. Not that they play like thugs or anything like that, but because they play as a team in its truest form. They don’t rely on a superstar, but every cog has its purpose and needs the other to function to its fullest.
No matter the score, the situation or the officials, they just keep playing Bulldog basketball. Grace Simon is one of the best pure shooters I’ve ever seen. The great thing about Grace is that she takes a beating some nights, and just keeps coming.
I’ve never seen a player take so much punishment and never complain. Players everywhere can learn a lesson from Grace on how to be a teammate, a leader and an all-around great player. I can watch Grace Simon play the game of basketball every day of the week, and twice on Sunday. A great player and student athlete.
A lot of those same qualities go for Allison “Millison” Milligan. She has to be one of the most unselfish players I have ever seen. She never hesitates to make that extra laser pass to find someone open.
She plays with so much heart, it’s impossible to ignore. She may not lead the box score in points, but when she needs to scores she will. Need further proof? Go back and watch the Laurel game. This “kid” has ice water in her veins.
I’m already excited to see who steps up next year and where this team goes the rest of this season as sensational sophomores Paige Kohler and Mia Kalich get better by the game. Lord knows we have given plenty of print to Paige this year, and that is because she has deserved every bit of it! Mia is going to keep growing into one of the best big’s in the game.
Lauren Galaska is their vocal and physical leader in so many forms. She has a bright future ahead of her at Walsh in anything she decides to pursue. This is such a special group!
What made them the best was their commitment to each other, and to having fun. They took the game dead serious, but never took themselves too seriously. They would cheer for every player on the roster to score.
They would be up by 20, but still get up and cheer and support whomever was on the court. They bonded in the offseason and it showed on the court. Truly a fun team to watch play.
Head Coach Jordan Eaton had this to say about his special bunch, “This team embodies togetherness – they care so much about each other it makes winning and losing secondary. “
