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Sophomore Abby O'Donnell
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O'Donnell blazing the
way for Lady Trojans
CNO Female Athlete of the Month
By George Starks
Sports Editor
ARCANUM- The Arcanum Lady Trojans are having a down year record wise.
Trojan sophomore Abby O’Donnell isn’t.
Her numbers aren’t that of star quality but then again, the respect she
gets from other teams in the Cross County Conference is. When the
Trojans step on the floor, the opposition knows that O’Donnell is the
center of the Arcanum offense and the first order of business is to get
her off the floor and on the bench in foul trouble.
“It’s frustrating,” said O’Donnell. “They come after me, I get two
fouls sand I’m on the bench. I go out and I play hard and I try to be
aggressive, like the coach (Rachael Fearon) wants but I have yet to
learn to play under control. Coach is working with me to learn to take
a charge and not to reach so much. She says that once I learn to play
more under control, then I will be in less foul trouble and things will
change.”
In the consolation game of the Burkett Tournament at Tri-Village,
O’Donnell led the Trojans with 21 points in the win over Ansonia,
earning her the honor of being named to the all tournament team.
“That was an honor to be named to a team with Kayla Linkous, Teha
Richards, Crystal Falknor and Haley Gray,” said O’Donnell. “Those are
some outstanding players. That told me I have enough of what it takes
to be out there with players like that.
In the only other win of the season, a CCC victory over Twin Valley
South, O’Donnell spent time on the bench in foul trouble but still led
the team in scoring.
One thing O’Donnell is learning is how to be a team leader, something
Fearon is in need of on the floor.
“As a sophomore, it’s a little scary to be in that kind of a role,”
O’Donnell admitted. “I know in time, I will be ready for that
responsibility but not yet.”
As a player on a very inexperienced team, O’Donnell gives credit to not
only Fearon but to the junior varsity coach Abby (Davenport) Moore.
“The two of them together are the best,” O’Donnell said. “They know how
to play the game and to teach it. They started teaching us the
fundamentals of the game. Simple things like playing good defense and
running the offense. Boxing out on the boards and just doing things the
right way. I have learned so much from them.”
While O’Donnell knows this season is a learning experience for everyone
involved, she is looking down the road for the team in general.
“I think next year is going to be much better for us as a team,” said
O’Donnell. “We could be the team to beat but in two years, with our
coaches, we will be the team to beat I think. We are a young team and
we are getting better and better every game.”
As a young player on a young team, O’Donnell knows as an individual,
she has a long way to go. She also want to help her team win.
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