By Trevor Wenners
Assistant Director of Sports Information
Life can be intimidating for a first-year student-athlete on the collegiate stage.
Upperclassmen leadership can ease that burden. That was exactly the case for freshman Catherine Skebo of the LaGrange College women's basketball team.
"Senior Sadie Desroches and junior Daijah Cousins have both taken me under their wings," said Skebo. "They have not only given me basketball advice, but school advice in general. They welcomed me and I know I can count on them for anything."
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| Catherine Skebo buried two 3-pointers in a win over Judson on Nov. 18. |
Skebo, who is primarily known for her shooting ability, scored her first points as a Panther during a clutch moment in a 67-65 win over Berry on Nov. 10. With 10 seconds left in the third quarter, she drained a right-of-the-arc, 3-point shot, giving the Panthers a 45-44 lead going into the fourth.
Skebo was a spark off the bench in eight minutes during a 64-39 win over Judson on Nov. 18, going 2-for-4 from 3-point range during the Panthers' home opener. The 5-foot-6 shooting guard has also shown the ability to play in the Panthers' offensive system. On one hand, she is unselfish, looking for open teammates with ball movement. In the same breath, she is not afraid to take and make big shots.
"Catherine is a joy to coach," said Panthers head coach Lee Buchanan. "She has a wonderful personality and is well liked by everyone on the team. She is a hard worker and a gym rat. She is always working on her shot and trying to find ways to enhance her overall game. She is a tremendous shooter and has such a quick release. That combination certainly makes her a dangerous player when she is on the court."
The Peachtree City, Georgia native starred as a high-school basketball player at Trinity Christian. During her junior season, she reached the 1,000-point plateau, and then as a senior, she earned GHSA All-Region honors. She was a GISA All-Region player as a sophomore and junior.
The motivated young woman has appeared in six of eight games as a rookie. Skebo's ability to space the floor and stretch defenses have been vital components. LaGrange is currently 6-2 overall and 1-1 in the USA South, with a big game against Maryville coming up on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Mariotti.
"Catherine has really improved this semester and is getting better at all the other aspects of the game beyond shooting," said Buchanan. "She has a bright future in a Panther uniform. I am excited to see what she can continue to do for this team this season."
Skebo, who is majoring in sports management, took some time to speak about the differences between the high school and college game, while also touching on career aspirations.
Q: How do you stay ready on the bench and capitalize when called upon?
A: A positive attitude and staying mentally focused on the game keeps me ready for any playing opportunities. I want to contribute to my team in any way possible.
Q: What is the biggest difference between the high school and college game?
A: The biggest adjustment from high school to college basketball has been learning a new system. This new system is helping me grow as a basketball player.
Q: Why did you choose LaGrange College?
A: I chose LaGrange College because I felt like I could be successful academically, as well as on the basketball court. Coach Buchanan had a lot to do with my decision because of his knowledge and coaching experience. He pushes players to be the best version of themselves.
Q: How have you adapted to college life?
A: In the beginning, it was a challenge adapting to college life. I am more comfortable now because I have a routine. Athletics has made this transition easier because of the set schedule. Being a part of the basketball team has made transitioning to college easier. The team spends a lot of time together, so we have become a family. Having a large group of freshmen around me going through similar experiences has made the transition smoother.
Q: Which area of your game is underrated and where would you like to see improvements?
A: Two strong areas of my game are my work ethic and commitment to the sport. I am continuing to work on defense and that will always be something I can improve on. Offensively, I want to work on shooting off the dribble.
Q: What makes the 2019-20 women's basketball team special?
A: The women's basketball team is unique because we have a lot of returning and experienced players. They have helped the freshmen learn a new system. We have a strong defensive-minded team, which allows us to be tough on the court.
Q: How important are time-management skills to balancing between academics and athletics?
A: Coach Buchanan started the semester off right by having team study halls during the preseason. Time management and keeping those habits are necessary to be successful on and off the court, especially when we have film sessions, practices and games. Having our practice and game schedule given to us at the beginning of the season allowed the team to plan and stay on top of its work.
Q: Have you joined any clubs on campus and what are your career aspirations?
A: It is exciting to be a part of the sports-management program at LaGrange. I also joined the sports-management club on campus. It is fun to be involved in this club as a freshman. My goal after graduating is to work for the Atlanta Hawks.
Q: What was going through your mind the first time you checked into a game this year?
A: Checking into my first college game, I was nervous but very excited. Each game is thrilling, and I am learning how to be less anxious.
Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lagrange.edu.
