This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
01/03/2024 10:39 AMBalancing life as both a three-season athlete and student, Ava Davies truly sees how every piece must be in place, and how one must utilize each moment of every day to its full potential to yield maximum results. This applies both for her own personal gain, and the growth of the Hand girls’ basketball team as a whole.
Ava, a shooting guard and senior for the Tigers, played soccer and hoops growing up–the former of which she also still plays for Hand, along with outdoor track. After several years of growing on the court through AAU ball, she has assumed a leadership role for Hand this winter as a squad steward at captain.
“In basketball, you have such a small team, so you get a lot closer with teammates and it feels more like a family. It also challenges you and teaches you a lot about life,” says Ava. “I have always been working hard, putting in time, and managing my time correctly. Our team also prioritizes shooting around with each other in the offseason, and supporting each other.”
The pitch and the hardwood harbor different terrains and tempos to expand stamina, per Ava. Yet while more pawns may be on the playing field with soccer, the flow of the game and facilitation of the ball translates quite well to the court.
“Both sports are different, which is helpful I feel,” Ava says. “There are more people on the field with soccer, but it helps with finding connections and passing, which has helped me with basketball. Soccer is not as much short sprinting, but it still helps with my conditioning for basketball, and I also do track in the spring to stay in shape for both.”
At the second slot in the back court for Hand, Ava loves the view of the action, and uses the vantage point to produce tallies on the scoreboard. She knows that conversely it can welcome some unforced errors, though she knows the self-belief garnered as a leader helps.
“Shooting guard is definitely the best position to be in to get a good look at the court to attack and see what is really going on. It is also challenging with pressure, because there is also a lot of room for turnovers,” says Ava. “I have been getting stronger physically through the gym, but becoming a leader on the team has been big for me. I feel like I can lead this team to success.”
Ava asserts that she was quite honored and humbled to be selected as a captain by her coaches and peers. Still, the occupation or its accompanying responsibilities are not too big for her at all, and she, with her captain cohorts, champion unity and encouragement.
“Being captain means a lot to me,” Ava says. “ The other captains and I have made it a priority to get the team to support and push each other, because it is such a long season. We want to make sure everyone is doing really well, while challenging each other to be the best we can.”
The Tigers may have stumbled a bit out of the gate, though Ava explains that it was not for lack of testing their might against some of the upper tier teams in the state as they find their flow.
“We started off the year with some challenging games and with them being on the road,” Ava says. “But we just went right into it. We are also trying to navigate things and build up that team chemistry as the year goes on.”
With time, Ava and Hand are certain that things will coalesce and come together rather nicely for the program. Knowing the expectations set forth by their leader, Ava and each girl will look to bolster their own abilities for the betterment of the group.
“We will look to put the pieces together as the season goes on,” says Ava. “[Head Coach Tim Tredwell] holds us to high standards with the success this team has had in recent years. Our goal is more about individual success and improvement before wins and losses.”
Tredwell has seen Ava accelerate while holding herself to that Hand standard of excellence as a player, but additionally as a captain who enjoys the sport but also takes it seriously.
“Ava is a tremendous asset to our program. Her intelligence and versatility make her very valuable on the court,” says Tredwell. “As a senior leader, she's always setting the tone with her consistent effort and no-nonsense approach to the game. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching her develop, and am thankful to have a student-athlete like her representing our team.”
Through the opening weeks and first month of her final frame as a Hand Tiger on the court, Ava amasses a grander sense of perspective towards her future and essential skills to thrive. As it is about compartmentalizing tasks when multiple things seem to be thrust forth simultaneously, one must also look to balance the aid of a total group to accomplish an objective at times.
“Being a student-athlete, I have learned managing time and success are huge things,” Ava says. “It is about finding priorities to get things done. I have learned a lot of leadership and communication skills. I feel it will translate well into the working world with a job. You also have to know when to do your own thing, and when to be a team player.”