Not in Naomi Benson's shadow but with her
Editorial by Olivia Johnson-Wilson
Our girls basketball team is facing significant changes as we say goodbye to one of our best players, Naomi Benson. Naomi has been a standout player since her freshman year, breaking numerous records and setting a high standard for the team. Carlee Bedford and I have been playing alongside Naomi the last three years Since we all started on Varsity as freshmen, we created a bond over the years.
I came to Streetsboro my seventh grade year to start with a team of new people I never knew before. I was nervous that they wouldn't like me, they would think I was bad, and even more scared that I wouldn't make the team.
The first day of middle school practice, me and Carlee just clicked. We both knew we were going to be best friends, “the post and guard duo.”
Me and Carlee worked hard together our eighth grade year. We would train, pray and speak it into existence that we would start Varsity and to continue to be on Varsity throughout our high school basketball career. Eighth grade was like a little reality check for the both of us. We had some good games even some bad games but we came together and worked to improve. Our eighth grade year was amazing. We were conference champs and we went undefeated that whole season, so that was a great way to go into high school…at least we thought.
Carlee shared her experience of being a freshman on Varsity, mentioning that she didn't pay much attention to how the upperclassmen treated her. She was just focused on winning games, she said. I personally felt like the upperclassmen were a little rude and that they acted like me and Carlee didn't deserve to be on Varsity. But Carlee and I knew we had earned our spot from all the work we had put in. Going into freshman summer, we weren't going to let anyone take that from us.
Carlee did face some challenges our freshman year, like people saying she was only on Varsity because her dad was one of the coaches. People will say anything to bring you down. She ignored it. Despite the hate and the rumors, we still proved our worth on the court.
The question me and Carlee got asked the most is how it feels playing in Naomi's shadow. I personally wouldn't say we played in her shadow. We played with her. I am the point guard. Nothing happens without a point guard and Carlee can play all five spots on the court. It starts with me driving to the paint and kicking it out to Carlee for a three, or even driving to the paint and dishing it to Naomi. It all happens when there are patients.
Naomi is an awesome player but didn't do everything herself. We contribute by being patient, rebounding, passing and me calling plays to get everyone open and to get a good bucket. I would say just playing with Naomi was an amazing experience for me and Carlee.
Carlee agrees.“We are our own people and we know there is no ‘I’ in the team and she couldn't do it by herself. Everyone on the team contributes leading to our success.”
Our basketball team for next year is still going to do great things and accomplish so many goals. Everyone will have to step up and bring everything that they have to the table so we can still continue with our expectation of being “That Team.”