Trio Of Leaders Key For Lady Bees In 17-2 Start

The Upperman Lady Bees have been rolling, winning their latest game over the DeKalb County Lady Tigers by a final score of 52-35.

While defense has been the key to their success, juniors Reagan Hurst and Torie Brooks have experienced big games in the past few games for Upperman.

Hurst matched Watertown’s entire roster in scoring with 25 points in a win on Jan.10, while Brooks shot the ball well and finished a rebound shy of a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds against DeKalb. Brooks also led the way on defense with six steals.

“They’re both veteran players for me,” Head Coach Dana McWilliams said. “Reagan is a three-year starter, and Torie saw significant time as a Freshman…they have a lot of experience and they are very good team players.”

They’ve also been needed even more as leaders for this young team with senior Ashland Mcclellan out due to injury. With young players such as Abigail Johnson and Jayla Cobb playing important minutes, McWilliams says their leadership has shown in how well the team moves the ball.

“Torie and Reagan have stepped up and filled (Mcclellan’s role) while Ashland’s been out,” McWilliams said. “They’re very confident players…I got several compliments (against DeKalb) about how much they share the ball and how well they play together. I told our team that that’s one of the best compliments you can receive.”

Mcclellan has continued in her leadership role as well, as she remains a voice for the younger players, according to McWilliams.

“She’s been a big leader, even during her injury,” McWilliams said. “On the bench and in the locker room, she’s done a great job.”