PUTNAM COUNTY
The Gatewood girls’ basketball team may have started a new year but its main goal remains the same.
Lady Gators’ head coach Jordan Walters, who recently changed her last name from Camp after getting married, still wants her players to focus on the bigger picture, which is winning a region title.
Gatewood entered the week with an 11-4 overall record but had three road games coming up.
Walters feels as if her players are coming together as they begin GIAA Region 2-AA play next week.
“Our greatest asset right now is that every person can get in the game and go,” Walters said. “We’ve had our starters change multiple times throughout the year. We’ve also had our bench players, who may start sometimes, hop right in and contribute. That’s huge for us.”
Gatewood’s roster is filled with underclassmen as it has only one senior. The Lady Gators rely heavily on their bench to contribute. They get a lot of scoring from that part of the roster.
Junior Carly Cannon has become more of a threat to Gatewood this season, Walters said.
“She’s always been a good fundamental player, although this year she has truly let her brain stop her from holding her back, overthinking and worrying. She has let loose and really handled the ball for us,” Walters added of Cannon. “She’s drastically improved from last season. Just kind of carrying the team, the pace of the game and all that kind of stuff for us.”
Freshmen Natalie Sills and Riley Roberts are also contributing, and so is eighth-grader Lauren Paxson. Each of them is playing invaluable minutes for Gatewood at the varsity level.
“I expected big things from both of them but they have surpassed my expectations,” Walters said of Sills and Roberts. “They’ve filled some pretty big roles as freshmen and that’s huge.”
“I pulled up one eighth-grader to varsity, but it was more of for practice time so she can learn the lingo,” Walters added of Paxson. “She’s actually been one of the first subs in off the bench. “She sees the floor very well and she’s fundamentally sound and her court experience doesn’t look like an eighth-grader. We’re going to be set with her along with the two freshmen.”
The Lady Gators defeated Thomas Jefferson Academy 66-43 last Tuesday before losing to Briarwood Academy 41-25 on Friday. They then defeated Trinity Christian 51-50 on Saturday.
Gatewood has Peachtree Academy, Young Americans Christian and Edmund Burke Academy this week, which are three programs it has previously defeated this 202223 season.
Heading into region play, the Lady Gators will have to face defending GIAA Class AA champion Brentwood Academy twice, as well as Piedmont Academy and Westminster Christian.
“I think our region, like the opponents in it, their records don’t tell the whole story,” Walters said. “We have the best record (in our region right now), however, I think our opponents have played some tough competition. Our region is always the hardest in the state.”
Gatewood’s schedule is going to be a “dog fight,” according to Walters.
“Piedmont is a very physical team, Brentwood is very full-speed, fast-paced and then Westminster is new to our region this season,” Walters said. “I think we can win it (our region) and we have the ability to, but it’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be a dog fight.”