Returning to the Hebron Christian girls basketball team wasn”t a difficult time for junior post player Tori Nichols.
But the addition of the 6-foot-3 inside shooter has made all the difference in the Lady Eagles” offense.
Nichols” plays is crucial when defenses try to stop the Hebron Christian scorers. With a handful of 3-point shooters and a second post player, Nichols” presence inside can force opponents to split their defensive efforts to contend with all of Hebron Christian”s scoring options.
If teams try to collapse on the taller Nichols, the outside shooters can take over. Nichols, however, can dominate when opponents spread out to cover the long shots.
On Tuesday, Nichols had 17 points against Winston Academy and followed that effort with 26 points Thursday against Carroll Academy.
For her accomplishments, Nichols is The Dispatch”s Prep Player of the Week.
Nichols returned to Hebron Christian after one year at Houston High School, but the change wasn”t uncomfortable.
“It wasn”t as hard as I thought it was going to be, but it was a change with players,” said Nichols, who is averaging about 25 points.
Hebron Christian girls basketball coach Greg Watkins said the addition of Nichols, who spent her ninth-grade year at Hebron Christian, and the time spent together by the team have made this season successful.
The Lady Eagles, however, became more a cohesive unit in the summer, when Nichols and her teammates attended a basketball camp at Indianola Academy. The event gave the players provided time to get to know each other better.
“We got probably 20 games played over there,” Watkins said. “Playing together at camp really helped when we started the season.”
Nichols said the camp was a lot of fun.
“We learned a lot,” Nichols said. “It really helped us and we got our team chemistry back.”
The Lady Eagles have learned how Nichols” height can complement their outside shooters, especially if the 3-pointers start falling, Watkins said.
“She has got a real good touch, especially from 15 feet in,” Watkins said. “She has even hit a couple of threes this year. She”s got the size to develop the strength. She needs to work on her footwork, but she really helps our outside game.”
Seniors Cathryn Moore and Hillary Arnold and juniors Beverly Blake and Ruth Foster provide the bulk of Hebron Christian”s outside shooting.
“We”ve got some great outside shooters,” Nichols said.
Watkins said the offense clicks when opponents have to decide who to attack.
“When they collapse on (Nichols), we can get the outside,” Watkins said. “It doesn”t take but one girl to starting hitting shots. It”s hard to defend Tori one on one.”
Magen Tapley, a 5-foot-9 senior, is the Lady Eagles” second post player. She had 19 points against Carroll Academy.
“She doesn”t have the height, but she gets a lot of backside rebounds,” Nichols said.
Said Watkins, “Magen is strong and can use her power on the other side of the goal.”
Nichols knows she needs to work on the little things to improve her game.
“I need to work on fundamentals definitely,” she said. “Sometimes I just shoot and it goes in.”
To improve her technique, Nichols said he has been working on her jumping and squaring up to basket.
Watkins said Nichols has improved her skills but still needs fine-tuning.
“There are small things she”s gotta work on,” he said. “If she gets those little things taken care of, no doubt she will advance to an upper level of play.”
After taking on Central Academy on Friday in Macon, Watkins said Hebron Christian will face Kemper Academy and Immanuel Christian next week in crucial games.
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