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Leadership is a shared responsibility for the Lady Trojans
Saturday, March 9, 2024
JASON PEEVYHOUSE
When a team gets as far as the Lady Trojans have found their journey taking them this postseason – to the doorstep of their overall goal of winning the TSSAA State Championship – those players have been tested on more than one occasion during the course of the season which began in the middle of November.
Through the last month which encompasses the TSSAA basketball postseason, all five of the Lady Trojan starters have had to – at least once or twice – step up and put their team on their back in some way.
It's a subject which came up during Friday night's postgame press conference with four of the five Lady Trojan starters present.
Lady Trojan junior Joya Crawford
State Gazette photo/Jason Peevyhouse
For junior standout Joya Crawford, nights like Friday's Class AAA Semifinal win over Cocke County saw her score 27 points with many of her points coming at crucial times for the Lady Trojans.
“You've got to see it,” Crawford said of the moments when a player has to do this. “If you have a mismatch – go. Say, I'm locked up, then one of them have got to do it. We take turns.”
Sophomore Chelby Jordan has had a big postseason which has seen her win two Most Valuable Player awards (one shared) on the way to Murfreesboro. Since stepping onto the court at the Murphy Center, Jordan has average 16 points a game including a 20-point performance on Friday night in the semifinal win.
Lady Trojan sophomore Chelby Jordan
State Gazette photo/Jason Peevyhouse
“I feel like when you get to a certain point in the game, you've got to turn the switch on and keep going,” Jordan explained. “Don't back down – just take it head on. You know they can't guard you. Do something and go right past them. Create a move, get in a gap and create for your other teammates.
“Everybody knows that everybody on the team scores. Everybody knows that they've got to guard all five of us on the court.”
In her first year as a Lady Trojan and after sitting out a season due to transferring, junior Kalli Maclin is becoming a better inside player after playing other roles previously.
Lady Trojan junior Kalli Maclin
State Gazette photo/Jason Peevyhouse
“For me, helping my team, I rebound more,” Maclin explained. “Just hustling and stuff, I feel like its what I do.
“I wasn't expecting to play the post but it wasn't much of a difference. I feel like its hustle, go in, do your job and get it done.”
Stepping up and being a leader is a lot to put on a freshman, even one who is the daughter of a former Lady Trojan standout and current DMS head coach (Shaunda Strayhorn) and the granddaughter of the high school head coach (Tim Strayhorn).
Lady Trojan freshman Kay Kay Strayhorn
State Gazette photo/Jason Peevyhouse
“I just keep playing hard because defense gets you points,” Strayhorn added.