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While playing in a national basketball tournament in Illinois this past summer, North Hall’s Taylor Swozowski read a book she’d been given by Lady Trojans assistant coach Kristi House titled, “Stuff Good Players Should Know.”
According to “Swozi,” as she’s known to family, classmates and teammates alike, the contents of the book ran the gamut; everything from free-throw shooting to leadership.
What stuck with the sophomore point guard, however, was how the book addressed playing defense.
“Overall, the book refreshed me,” Swozowski said. “And it really helped me on the defensive end by giving me tools that will help me stop better players and the confidence to think I can do it in the first place.”
If Friday night’s Lanierland Basketball Tournament championship against Class AAA’s No. 2-ranked Gainesville was any indication, she’s putting those tools to good use.
With the Lady Red Elephants making a run with just under three minutes to go in the game, pulling within seven points of North Hall’s lead, Swozowski made a key steal and subsequent layup that iced the win for her team.
It was the cherry on top of a 17-point championship game performance that not only helped the Lady Trojans (6-0) to their second Lanierland title in three years, but earned her the C.W. Davis MVP award.
And now, for her efforts, Swozowski is The Times Athlete of the Week.
Swozowski, in her team’s first two Lanierland wins against Johnson and Lakeview, scored a combined seven points with three assists, two steals and two rebounds.
She knew her game had to be taken to a different level if the Lady Trojans had a shot at knocking off the defending Lanierland champions.
“Friday was my time to step up,” Swozowski said. “I wasn’t happy with my performances in the last couple of games and knew that to be the kind of player I want to be, I had to make something happen.
“Luckily having that in my head paid off for me on the court.”
“We’ve talked to Swozi a lot about being a leader on the floor,” second-year North Hall coach Bryan Richerson said. “She’s really starting to do that and Friday night was a great example.
“She’s progressed in every part of her game and it’s been amazing to see how much she’s matured in a year.”
The next step for Swozowski and her undefeated teammates comes tonight when they play host to No. 10-ranked Pickens.
“Friday night was the best game I’ve had in my high school career,” Swozowski said. “But it was just one game and in order to do what I want to do in the future, I have to play that way every game and stay humble.
“If I get cocky in anyway, I won’t play that way and won’t reach my goals or help my team reach our goals.”
Dec. 14, 2009 11:33p.m. EST
Athlete of the week: Swozowski's defense leads to offense, and a title
Katie B. Davis
Gainesville Times
While playing in a national basketball tournament in Illinois this past summer, North Hall’s Taylor Swozowski read a book she’d been given by Lady Trojans assistant coach Kristi House titled, “Stuff Good Players Should Know.”
According to “Swozi,” as she’s known to family, classmates and teammates alike, the contents of the book ran the gamut; everything from free-throw shooting to leadership.
What stuck with the sophomore point guard, however, was how the book addressed playing defense.
“Overall, the book refreshed me,” Swozowski said. “And it really helped me on the defensive end by giving me tools that will help me stop better players and the confidence to think I can do it in the first place.”
If Friday night’s Lanierland Basketball Tournament championship against Class AAA’s No. 2-ranked Gainesville was any indication, she’s putting those tools to good use.
With the Lady Red Elephants making a run with just under three minutes to go in the game, pulling within seven points of North Hall’s lead, Swozowski made a key steal and subsequent layup that iced the win for her team.
It was the cherry on top of a 17-point championship game performance that not only helped the Lady Trojans (6-0) to their second Lanierland title in three years, but earned her the C.W. Davis MVP award.
And now, for her efforts, Swozowski is The Times Athlete of the Week.
Swozowski, in her team’s first two Lanierland wins against Johnson and Lakeview, scored a combined seven points with three assists, two steals and two rebounds.
She knew her game had to be taken to a different level if the Lady Trojans had a shot at knocking off the defending Lanierland champions.
“Friday was my time to step up,” Swozowski said. “I wasn’t happy with my performances in the last couple of games and knew that to be the kind of player I want to be, I had to make something happen.
“Luckily having that in my head paid off for me on the court.”
“We’ve talked to Swozi a lot about being a leader on the floor,” second-year North Hall coach Bryan Richerson said. “She’s really starting to do that and Friday night was a great example.
“She’s progressed in every part of her game and it’s been amazing to see how much she’s matured in a year.”
The next step for Swozowski and her undefeated teammates comes tonight when they play host to No. 10-ranked Pickens.
“Friday night was the best game I’ve had in my high school career,” Swozowski said. “But it was just one game and in order to do what I want to do in the future, I have to play that way every game and stay humble.
“If I get cocky in anyway, I won’t play that way and won’t reach my goals or help my team reach our goals.”
Copyright 2011 MorrisMultimedia . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
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