Player Profile: Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The senior duo of Brooke Hertlein and Karen Hilt are the two lone seniors for the 2011-12 Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs' girls basketball program … and they are happy and proud to be the ones who will lead the Lady Mustangs this season.
Hertlein and Hilt are no strangers to not only being teammates, but leaders, as they both were a part of the Division IV SE District runner-up and South Central Ohio League girls soccer champions this past fall.
In fact, these two have were a part of the girls basketball program when the Lady Mustangs went to the district final last season, where they won 15 games one year ago.
This year, though, it is their team to lead, and that is what they are looking forward to doing this winter as each player said they know where each other is on the court.
But before they take the court for their senior season, each player described how they actually began playing the game of basketball.
"My brother always played basketball when he was in school, and my sister was a cheerleader, so I was constantly at basketball games," Hertlein said. "So, that is how I got into it."
"My dad played in high school, and I just played to play. I wanted something competitive to do," Hilt said.
Though both have been playing since their youth, it is now time for their final year of high school basketball, and for that, each has different parts of the upcoming season she is looking forward to.
"I want us to keep up the defensive stance we've carried on for the past couple years and keep up our records," Hertlein said.
"Defense is big for me this year," Hilt said. "I'm really looking forward to the defensive part of the game."
The Lady Mustangs as a whole is known for their defense, as former coaches Linda Hatten and Tiffany Barnett have taught both seniors how to perfect the Lady Mustang way of playing defense the past three seasons.
This year, Hertlein and Hilt will be playing under new head coach and Lady Mustang record holder Whitney Lewis. So, yes, the defensive aspect of the game will still be a top priority for LC.
"We believe that defense wins games because if you don't let them (opponents) score and you can score, that is a big advantage," Hertlein said.
"I just enjoy defense more than anything else in basketball," Hilt said. "It is just fun."
Lewis spoke about them as not only athletes, but people.
"They are good friends. They get along with each other, and they get along with their teammates," Lewis said. "I'm fortunate to see them on a daily basis. I see them as students, and they are the kind of kids you trust to take your wallet home with them at night.
"They are good role models for the underclassmen. Our freshmen here on the floor look up to them as well as the ones in the classroom. They are just good role models all-around, and we're fortunate enough to have them on our team."
Both players are looking forward to more than just playing defense this season, their final season of high school basketball.
"I'm excited for our season, but it is our last year. I want to win games, and I want to end on a good season," Hilt said.
"I want us to win games, and more importantly to do that we have to have good teamwork," Hertlein said.
Enjoying their senior season is something both players want, but they are the lone two seniors at LCHS who have stuck with the game … why?
"Basketball is just an awesome game. It's very competitive, and I love the competition," Hertlein said.
"We've played sports together so long now, I know she has my back, and I have hers," Hilt said. "It’s a good thing we always play sports together."
The two have played basketball for eight years as Hilt took a break her freshman season and Hertlein didn't play in fifth grade, but now the team is theirs to lead.
"We have a lot of responsibility on us," Hertlein said. "We know we have to be the leaders of the team, and having someone looking up to you is a lot to have on your shoulders."
"We want to just lead the team and keep up everyone during the game," Hilt said. "We want to make sure our team keeps fighting."
As most know, the Lady Mustangs have a longstanding tradition of basketball success, and that is something both the seniors and the community itself know about very well.
"Lynchburg-Clay basketball means everything," Hertlein said. "It’s the sport that I like the most. I always try my best."
"Basketball isn't my favorite sport, but I do love it," Hilt said. "I love the competition, and I love just being on the court."
As the season is close to beginning and the scrimmage season has passed, this is the best time to think about past memories that stand out more than others, before they make more their final year as Lady Mustangs.
"My favorite memory was playing West Union, and we didn't allow them to score many points," Hertlein. "It was one of our best defensive games."
Both know what being a leader means.
"We know what we have to bring," Hertlein said. "We have the most experience."
"We know we have to bring everyone together no matter what. When we come onto the court, we know there shouldn't be any problems. We are the ones who have to take care of that," Hitt said.[[In-content Ad]]
Hertlein and Hilt are no strangers to not only being teammates, but leaders, as they both were a part of the Division IV SE District runner-up and South Central Ohio League girls soccer champions this past fall.
In fact, these two have were a part of the girls basketball program when the Lady Mustangs went to the district final last season, where they won 15 games one year ago.
This year, though, it is their team to lead, and that is what they are looking forward to doing this winter as each player said they know where each other is on the court.
But before they take the court for their senior season, each player described how they actually began playing the game of basketball.
"My brother always played basketball when he was in school, and my sister was a cheerleader, so I was constantly at basketball games," Hertlein said. "So, that is how I got into it."
"My dad played in high school, and I just played to play. I wanted something competitive to do," Hilt said.
Though both have been playing since their youth, it is now time for their final year of high school basketball, and for that, each has different parts of the upcoming season she is looking forward to.
"I want us to keep up the defensive stance we've carried on for the past couple years and keep up our records," Hertlein said.
"Defense is big for me this year," Hilt said. "I'm really looking forward to the defensive part of the game."
The Lady Mustangs as a whole is known for their defense, as former coaches Linda Hatten and Tiffany Barnett have taught both seniors how to perfect the Lady Mustang way of playing defense the past three seasons.
This year, Hertlein and Hilt will be playing under new head coach and Lady Mustang record holder Whitney Lewis. So, yes, the defensive aspect of the game will still be a top priority for LC.
"We believe that defense wins games because if you don't let them (opponents) score and you can score, that is a big advantage," Hertlein said.
"I just enjoy defense more than anything else in basketball," Hilt said. "It is just fun."
Lewis spoke about them as not only athletes, but people.
"They are good friends. They get along with each other, and they get along with their teammates," Lewis said. "I'm fortunate to see them on a daily basis. I see them as students, and they are the kind of kids you trust to take your wallet home with them at night.
"They are good role models for the underclassmen. Our freshmen here on the floor look up to them as well as the ones in the classroom. They are just good role models all-around, and we're fortunate enough to have them on our team."
Both players are looking forward to more than just playing defense this season, their final season of high school basketball.
"I'm excited for our season, but it is our last year. I want to win games, and I want to end on a good season," Hilt said.
"I want us to win games, and more importantly to do that we have to have good teamwork," Hertlein said.
Enjoying their senior season is something both players want, but they are the lone two seniors at LCHS who have stuck with the game … why?
"Basketball is just an awesome game. It's very competitive, and I love the competition," Hertlein said.
"We've played sports together so long now, I know she has my back, and I have hers," Hilt said. "It’s a good thing we always play sports together."
The two have played basketball for eight years as Hilt took a break her freshman season and Hertlein didn't play in fifth grade, but now the team is theirs to lead.
"We have a lot of responsibility on us," Hertlein said. "We know we have to be the leaders of the team, and having someone looking up to you is a lot to have on your shoulders."
"We want to just lead the team and keep up everyone during the game," Hilt said. "We want to make sure our team keeps fighting."
As most know, the Lady Mustangs have a longstanding tradition of basketball success, and that is something both the seniors and the community itself know about very well.
"Lynchburg-Clay basketball means everything," Hertlein said. "It’s the sport that I like the most. I always try my best."
"Basketball isn't my favorite sport, but I do love it," Hilt said. "I love the competition, and I love just being on the court."
As the season is close to beginning and the scrimmage season has passed, this is the best time to think about past memories that stand out more than others, before they make more their final year as Lady Mustangs.
"My favorite memory was playing West Union, and we didn't allow them to score many points," Hertlein. "It was one of our best defensive games."
Both know what being a leader means.
"We know what we have to bring," Hertlein said. "We have the most experience."
"We know we have to bring everyone together no matter what. When we come onto the court, we know there shouldn't be any problems. We are the ones who have to take care of that," Hitt said.[[In-content Ad]]