Player Profile: Whiteoak Lady Wildcats
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Whiteoak Lady Wildcats will begin the 2011-12 girls basketball season with two seniors who will be a part of the varsity program for a combined six seasons.
Leading Whiteoak this year will be four-year varsity player Jessie Gilliland and three-year varsity player Marissa Bohl, both of whom are guards for the Lady 'Cats.
"They both have been leading by example on the practice floor this offseason," Whiteoak head coach Mike Cooper said. "They work hard every day, and I expect more scoring out of them this year. They both understand what they need to do for the team this season to be successful."
Both began their journey to what has become their senior basketball season at a young age.
"I started in the third grade," Gilliland said. "I played because my dad (Brent) was an official, and I liked playing basketball.
"My family is really athletic, and we love a lot of different sports."
Bohl's father (Doug) and brothers (Jared and Jason) played at Whiteoak, and she soon followed.
"I started playing in fourth grade," Bohl said. "The main reason I started playing was because my brothers played. Basketball is a family thing with us. It’s exciting to play on the same court that members of my family did."
Being the seniors playing for the orange-and-black of the Lady Wildcats, each had her own reason for continuing into her senior year.
"I love everything about the game, really," Gilliland said. "There isn't one specific thing."
"The same for me … I love the game," Bohl said.
A senior season is special for any player in any sport, so this is no different for the Whiteoak duo, who has been playing basketball together since they were in elementary school.
"Being my last year, I'm not looking forward to seeing it end," Gilliland said. "Hopefully this year I can excel in my game. I just want to be competitive this year; that is one of the best parts of playing basketball is being competitive."
"The competition and intensity of every game is something I'm looking forward to this year," Bohl said.
As their high school careers are indeed set to end following this season, both players have gained memories that will live on with them for the rest of their lives.
"In junior high, for both of us, was a lot of fun," Gilliland said. "I think it was because all of our friend played."
"Just getting to play basketball together since we were little kids has been fun and memorable," Bohl said.
"We know what each other is going to do," Gilliland said.
"We have a rhythm with each other since we've played together for so long," Bohl said.
Both spoke about being the lone seniors this season.
"It’s disappointing we aren't playing with all of our friends for different reasons, but I'm glad we are still here," Gilliland said.[[In-content Ad]]
Leading Whiteoak this year will be four-year varsity player Jessie Gilliland and three-year varsity player Marissa Bohl, both of whom are guards for the Lady 'Cats.
"They both have been leading by example on the practice floor this offseason," Whiteoak head coach Mike Cooper said. "They work hard every day, and I expect more scoring out of them this year. They both understand what they need to do for the team this season to be successful."
Both began their journey to what has become their senior basketball season at a young age.
"I started in the third grade," Gilliland said. "I played because my dad (Brent) was an official, and I liked playing basketball.
"My family is really athletic, and we love a lot of different sports."
Bohl's father (Doug) and brothers (Jared and Jason) played at Whiteoak, and she soon followed.
"I started playing in fourth grade," Bohl said. "The main reason I started playing was because my brothers played. Basketball is a family thing with us. It’s exciting to play on the same court that members of my family did."
Being the seniors playing for the orange-and-black of the Lady Wildcats, each had her own reason for continuing into her senior year.
"I love everything about the game, really," Gilliland said. "There isn't one specific thing."
"The same for me … I love the game," Bohl said.
A senior season is special for any player in any sport, so this is no different for the Whiteoak duo, who has been playing basketball together since they were in elementary school.
"Being my last year, I'm not looking forward to seeing it end," Gilliland said. "Hopefully this year I can excel in my game. I just want to be competitive this year; that is one of the best parts of playing basketball is being competitive."
"The competition and intensity of every game is something I'm looking forward to this year," Bohl said.
As their high school careers are indeed set to end following this season, both players have gained memories that will live on with them for the rest of their lives.
"In junior high, for both of us, was a lot of fun," Gilliland said. "I think it was because all of our friend played."
"Just getting to play basketball together since we were little kids has been fun and memorable," Bohl said.
"We know what each other is going to do," Gilliland said.
"We have a rhythm with each other since we've played together for so long," Bohl said.
Both spoke about being the lone seniors this season.
"It’s disappointing we aren't playing with all of our friends for different reasons, but I'm glad we are still here," Gilliland said.[[In-content Ad]]