Lake Highlands’ Lady Cats Trio

January 16, 2015

by Marty McLendon

I had not seen Lake Highlands High School’s Lady Wildcats play this year until recently, but was pleasantly surprised when three of their guards really stood out to me. Even without anyone over 5’9”, this team sports a 13-9 overall record, and are 3-2 in a strong district. They are really only one big post player short of competing well in their district. The team is composed entirely of seniors, so I am not sure what their Junior Varsity talent provides for the future. Nonetheless, they are currently a very solid team that plays until the last buzzer. The backcourt is comprised of #23 Arielle Brown, #1 Maggie Morgan and #21 Claudia Talafuse.

At 5’9”, Arielle Brown leads the team in scoring for the most part, with the size and talent to take over the game. For the season, she is average 12.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. She has excellent handles for a tall guard, which contributes to her ability to attack the rim. She is great about breaking down the defense and knows how to finish when she gets to the hole. A good defensive player, Brown leads the team by example.

Claudia Talafuse is 5’3” and puts up good numbers every game, averaging 13.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. As a leader on the team, she takes charge at the point and is smooth and effective on the wing. She can hit shots from the long range and rebounds well for a smaller guard. Her defense is strong, especially on the ball.

At 5’6”, Maggie Morgan is as tough as they come, and a strong contributor in any area of the game her team needs her. She averages 7.0 points, 2.5 rebounds. 2.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per game. She is strong at any of the guard positions and is an excellent defender. A fiery, aggressive player, Morgan possesses an evidently high basketball IQ.

Coach Holly Mulligan has really taken this team to the next level. She maximizes the talent she has and utilizes her bench to allow everyone their fair share of minutes. The teams’ utmost work ethic is likely a reflection of their coach. As the Lady Cats head down the stretch, they should remain in strong contention for a playoff spot.