PBR Exclusive: Plano West Lady Wolves

Plano West High School faced a critical matchup against district rival Flower Mound High School on February 10, 2015. Lady Wolves Head Coach Kristen Perry had her team well prepared, as they took home the win (60-50) and the district crown. The Lady Wolves improved to 24-5 for the season with a flawless 16-0 mark in district play. Since then, they have claimed an overwhelming Bi-District playoff win over Keller Fossil Ridge (95-33), improving to 25-5 for the season. Their next stop will be in the Area playoff round as they face Euless Trinity Friday, February 20 at Colleyville Heritage High School.

Plano West is lead by National Top 10 recruit Natalie Chou. The 6’1” junior guard is a alluring player with strong, balanced stats on offense and defense. In the game against Flower Mound, she recorded 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, 3 steals and a block; these stats are consistent with her season numbers of 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Chou can shoot the ball from any range and her smooth, quick release makes her an effective outside shooter. She also handles on-the-ball pressure incredibly well for a tall guard. Her extensive knowledge of the game always seems to put her in the right place at the right time. Her recruiting list is lengthy and impressive, indicative of one of the nation’s top players. Chou will compete in select basketball this summer with the Texas Elite Adidas program, coached by Joey Simmons.

Coach Perry’s talented team also includes Callie Owens, a 5’9” junior guard, who has made great strides as a scorer and all-around player in her high school career. She is a long athlete and an impact player; she leads by example and is smooth and composed on the floor. Owens has great court vision and is a true team player.

The Plano West squad also includes 5’8” senior guard Sydney Skinner, a talented and aggressive player who knows how to attack the rim. She has great physical strength, makes defense and rebounding a top priority, and knows how to create space; it is apparent when she plays that she has spent substantial amounts of time working on her game. Skinner has committed to Harvard University to begin her college basketball career in the Fall of 2015.

Another key athlete on this team is Morgann Yancey, a 5’9” junior guard who encompasses the principle of “work ethic.” She does whatever the team needs and never steps down from a challenge: a coach’s ideal team player. Yancey can put the ball up anywhere around the perimeter or take opponents to the paint and post them up. She is constantly working, even when she does not have the ball. Plano West is an extremely capable team with all the tools necessary to make it to the State Tournament in San Antonio.