Six seniors carrying the load for Generals this winter
Experience is critical in anything, and Wooster girls basketball coach Mike Baus isn’t going to disagree.
While there is little question that Lauren Walker and Halle Gallo-Malta have been the keys to the Generals’ 10-1 season, the reality is that the Generals’ success this season is based on the contributions of all six seniors on the team.
Walker (15 points a game) and Gallo-Malta (12 ppg, 6 assists per game) have been instrumental in the Generals’ 10-game winning streak and rise to the top of the Ohio Cardinal Conference with an 8-0 mark. They have had plenty of support from their teammates, who have grown into critical components for Wooster this winter.
Andi Logee, Staci Hackett, Brittany Nicholson and Alicia Carter, who all lettered last season, have all stepped up for the Generals at critical times, noted Wooster coach Mike Baus.
“We’ve needed every one of the six,” he said. “They all contribute and one of the things we’ve been observing and that doesn’t show up in the scorebook … is they battle hard every day in practice and that makes the team better from the get-go. They are very competitive and the (two teams, starters and subs) are pretty evenly matched in practice, day-in and day-out.
“Halle and Lauren are our go-to girls, but all six are contributing in different roles, whether that’s as a defender, rebounder or helping with the ball handling. They all have their niche and have blended pretty well together. That’s why we’ve been successful in the first part of the season … and hopefully we will capitalize on that as the season continues.”
Logee (4 ppg, 5 rpg), who starts at post for the Generals, ended her junior season with a flourish that had Baus hoping for big things this season. However, he’s only recently begun to see what Logee is capable of because of injuries.
“Andi’s started out slow,” said Baus. “She had some nagging shoulder injuries that were not quite healed up. In the first part of the season she was in quite a bit of pain and she was taking some treatment. Now she’s playing pain free and we’ve seen her step up in both practice and in the last couple games. We’re expecting a big second half of the season from her.
“She’s extremely smart on the court. She directs traffic in our match-up zone and she takes on that role. She knows the Xs and Os – she knows where people should be.”
Hackett (3 ppg, 3.5 rpg) has upped her role on the hardwood, buoyed in part by a superb fall season as goalkeeper for the Generals’ girls OCC champion soccer team, which reached the District finals.
“Staci is one of our top pure athletes. She’s quick and fast, and we tend to use her in ball handling situations where we need more than just Halle,” said Baus. “She’s available to play defense on one of the other team’s top players. She works extremely hard in practice … and I’m amazed by her athletic ability.
“I think her growth has come by the fact the more she’s played, the more confidence she gets in herself and it spills over on the court. She gives 100 percent and you can’t ask more than that.”
While Hackett may have a defensive mind-set, Nicholson’s role (4.5 ppg) is to supply an offensive spark.
“Brittany’s role has been to come off the bench and help with the ball handling,” said Baus. “She is our best outside shooter (40 percent), with a decent number of her shots being three-point attempts. We’re seeing a lot of zone defenses and her specialty is hitting big shots against zones. That’s been her role and she’s become more active and getting more rebounds and steals. That’s where she’s grown. She’s had a good shot, now she’s expanded her game and picked up more rebounds, steals and assists.
“Alicia (5 rpg) has been a pleasant surprise. She’s worked her tail off,” noted Baus. “She’s probably our hardest worker. She can be physical against the other team’s post player and she has given us some great minutes, especially on the defensive end. Her challenge now is to relax on offense and put it in the hoop. We’ve seen that in practice, now we need to see that in games. She is such a tough, hard-nosed competitor.”
While Baus has relished seeing each player grow individually, what has been better is the willingness to work together.
“It’s been exciting,” he said. “The seniors have been the leaders. They all have demonstrated the leadership qualities we need. That’s worked out real well. It’s what you want to see as a coach.”
Wooster will be on the road for a pair of OCC games, traveling to Mansfield Senior Jan. 19 and then heading to Lexington Jan. 21.
While there is little question that Lauren Walker and Halle Gallo-Malta have been the keys to the Generals’ 10-1 season, the reality is that the Generals’ success this season is based on the contributions of all six seniors on the team.
Walker (15 points a game) and Gallo-Malta (12 ppg, 6 assists per game) have been instrumental in the Generals’ 10-game winning streak and rise to the top of the Ohio Cardinal Conference with an 8-0 mark. They have had plenty of support from their teammates, who have grown into critical components for Wooster this winter.
Andi Logee, Staci Hackett, Brittany Nicholson and Alicia Carter, who all lettered last season, have all stepped up for the Generals at critical times, noted Wooster coach Mike Baus.
“We’ve needed every one of the six,” he said. “They all contribute and one of the things we’ve been observing and that doesn’t show up in the scorebook … is they battle hard every day in practice and that makes the team better from the get-go. They are very competitive and the (two teams, starters and subs) are pretty evenly matched in practice, day-in and day-out.
“Halle and Lauren are our go-to girls, but all six are contributing in different roles, whether that’s as a defender, rebounder or helping with the ball handling. They all have their niche and have blended pretty well together. That’s why we’ve been successful in the first part of the season … and hopefully we will capitalize on that as the season continues.”
Logee (4 ppg, 5 rpg), who starts at post for the Generals, ended her junior season with a flourish that had Baus hoping for big things this season. However, he’s only recently begun to see what Logee is capable of because of injuries.
“Andi’s started out slow,” said Baus. “She had some nagging shoulder injuries that were not quite healed up. In the first part of the season she was in quite a bit of pain and she was taking some treatment. Now she’s playing pain free and we’ve seen her step up in both practice and in the last couple games. We’re expecting a big second half of the season from her.
“She’s extremely smart on the court. She directs traffic in our match-up zone and she takes on that role. She knows the Xs and Os – she knows where people should be.”
Hackett (3 ppg, 3.5 rpg) has upped her role on the hardwood, buoyed in part by a superb fall season as goalkeeper for the Generals’ girls OCC champion soccer team, which reached the District finals.
“Staci is one of our top pure athletes. She’s quick and fast, and we tend to use her in ball handling situations where we need more than just Halle,” said Baus. “She’s available to play defense on one of the other team’s top players. She works extremely hard in practice … and I’m amazed by her athletic ability.
“I think her growth has come by the fact the more she’s played, the more confidence she gets in herself and it spills over on the court. She gives 100 percent and you can’t ask more than that.”
While Hackett may have a defensive mind-set, Nicholson’s role (4.5 ppg) is to supply an offensive spark.
“Brittany’s role has been to come off the bench and help with the ball handling,” said Baus. “She is our best outside shooter (40 percent), with a decent number of her shots being three-point attempts. We’re seeing a lot of zone defenses and her specialty is hitting big shots against zones. That’s been her role and she’s become more active and getting more rebounds and steals. That’s where she’s grown. She’s had a good shot, now she’s expanded her game and picked up more rebounds, steals and assists.
“Alicia (5 rpg) has been a pleasant surprise. She’s worked her tail off,” noted Baus. “She’s probably our hardest worker. She can be physical against the other team’s post player and she has given us some great minutes, especially on the defensive end. Her challenge now is to relax on offense and put it in the hoop. We’ve seen that in practice, now we need to see that in games. She is such a tough, hard-nosed competitor.”
While Baus has relished seeing each player grow individually, what has been better is the willingness to work together.
“It’s been exciting,” he said. “The seniors have been the leaders. They all have demonstrated the leadership qualities we need. That’s worked out real well. It’s what you want to see as a coach.”
Wooster will be on the road for a pair of OCC games, traveling to Mansfield Senior Jan. 19 and then heading to Lexington Jan. 21.
Published: January 18, 2012
