Tim Bowdern, varsity assistant coach, said these three younger players have helped energize the program.
“Without a doubt there is a new energy this year,” Bowdern said. “Having many good freshmen like, Lauren Glick, Reje Pitchford and Taylor Campbell makes a huge difference.”
However, Bowdern also said his seniors Ashley Elliot, Lauren Morris and Damonic Cunningham, have helped keep the freshmen and the other players on track.
“They know how things work in our program, and they understand everyone has ups and downs,” Bowdern said. “But [the three seniors] help everyone push through that.”
As a result, all three girls, including Glick said she has enjoyed the example that the seniors have set.
“The season has gone really well and the older girls have been really nice and made it fun,” Glick said.
All three freshmen girls caught the eye of the coaches in the basketball summer program and played with varsity from the first day of tryouts. So far they have each been pleased with their individual and team performance.
Campbell described herself as a 3 point shooter/ scorer. Pitchford, an all around guard, prided herself on her defense and her ability to bring the ball up the court. Glick, a forward, said her size around the basket has been instrumental to her success.
Morris said their differing styles all help them mesh well with the team.
“They all have the ability to play on the floor at the same time, and use their strengths to their advantage,” Morris said.
Campbell jumped quickly out of the gate this season with a team high 19 points in her first ever high school game. She is currently third on the team in scoring with 8.8 points per game.
She started playing in second grade and has always played up on her select team. However, she said the high school basketball scene is quite different than what she had seen.
“It’s all different teammates, coaches and a whole new atmosphere,” Campbell said.
However, Bowdern said Campbell has the athletic ability to be an outstanding player in the future.
“She has the potential to be a very dominant player in the Suburban West Conference,” he said.
Pitchford doesn’t score much, just 2.5 points per game, but she is essential to the team in so many ways. This season she only averages a tad over one turnover a game, even though she is one of the team’s primary ball handlers.
“Reje is very quick and does a very good job at not turning over the basketball,” Morris said.
Glick averages six points and five rebounds a game, including a career high 14 point game against Seckman.
The team hit a rough stretch in the middle of the season, losing five out of seven at one point. But, all three girls said the team, now 13-7, is getting better as the season goes on and their goal is to win districts.
“We want to make it through districts and see where it goes from there,” Pitchford said.
However, the Mustangs district will include two teams that the Mustangs have yet to beat in two attempts, in Eureka and Lafayette. The other members include Parkway South, Parkway West and Rockwood Summit.