Regina Barker takes what she has and makes other teams deal with it.
Barker, a senior guard for the Aberdeen High School girls basketball team, is a natural athlete on the basketball team, said coach Latorrence Bivens. Her abilities have helped her be a leader and to develop a scoring sense that has helped pace the Lady Bulldogs.
“Her abilities are more natural than anything else,” Bivens said of the 5-foot-9 Barker, who is The Dispatch”s Prep Player of the Week. “God gave her the talent and she has learned how to use it. When she gets it made up in her mind she”s going to drive (to the goal), she will drive.”
Averaging about 23 points per game, Barker doesn”t pile up her points from the 3-point line. A point guard or wing shooter often will use the long ball to beef up the point production, but Barker prefers a different approach.
“I like to drive,” she said. “Most times when I am driving to the goal they don”t close in one me. I like to shoot and drive hard to the play.”
Bivens said Barker”s speed, especially in transition, is her primary asset.
“She”s a driver, scoring a lot in transition,” Bivens said. “She will jump the passing lane and turn it into points. She has a lotta, lotta, lot of speed.”
When Bivens tries to set up his game plan, Barker can play anywhere.
“She plays the No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 positions for us,” he said. “Wherever we need her, we can play her. Her true position is point guard and wing.”
Don”t expect Barker to live up to the usual expectations in the shooting game, though. Unlike many leading scorers, Bivens said Barker isn”t focused on herself.
“She is unselfish,” Bivens said. “I told her I still want more. As much as she scores, she”s still holding back. I keep telling her, ”When you”ve got the shot, take it.””
Barker took enough shots during the Monroe County Tournament on Jan. 9-10 to be named the tournament”s MVP. She scored 36 points against Hatley and 21 against Hamilton in the championship game.
“We just wanted to win,” Barker said. “We were all trying to win.”
Above everything, Barker”s love for the game is what drives her, Bivens said.
“She is motivated to keep on going,” Bivens said. “She is a wonderful kid, an outstanding kid. She has the heart of a champion, and it shows in her play.”
Aberdeen (10-8) will travel today to play Water Valley. Bivens said Aberdeen has had problems at the free-throw line.
“Free throws have been our Achilles” heel all season,” he said.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.