Bovaird Amped to Return to Hoops and to the State Tournament
Almost every team is going to bring back some production from the previous season; some teams have a small percentage, while some have a high percentage. Lincoln East is the exception to that rule; they bring back 100% of their…
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Continue ReadingAlmost every team is going to bring back some production from the previous season; some teams have a small percentage, while some have a high percentage. Lincoln East is the exception to that rule; they bring back 100% of their production off of last year’s state semi-final team, including their centerpiece, Charlotte (Charley) Bovaird.
Bovaird lead the 19-7 Spartans in scoring last season at 14.1 points a game,, while also contributing 3.7 rebounds a contest. In leading the Spartans in their upset of top-seeded Millard South in the first round of the state tournament last season, Bovaird knows that the expectations have only heightened for the 2019-20 season.
“Our team goal is definitely to win state. I feel like with the experience we have and the dedication everyone has shown in the off-season, we’re in a great position to go all the way,” Bovaird said. “I feel like we have a really good group of players this year. We return all of our players from our state semi team last year. We understand our strengths and how to play with an undersized roster.”
Lincoln East is one of the more unique teams in Class A this season, whose tallest player is listed at only 5’10”. But that lack of height also means that the Spartans can extend their pressure and attack teams in the full court with relentless intensity. However, Bovaird knows what the potential weakness is within their team.
“We struggled some on the boards so I think we’d also like to cut down on our opponents offensive rebounds. That’s one place that we struggle in.”
The off-season has not been without some struggles for Bovaird, either. She tore her ACL last spring, but that hasn’t held her back from coming back full steam ahead, and in doing so, has learned alot from the experience and has also gotten some help along the way.
“Rehab is going really smooth. I’m getting to the point where I feel like an athlete again due to the increased intensity in therapy,” Bovarid stated. “My biggest piece of advice (for someone going through this) would be to know that things definitely get better. I think what’s really helped me is having someone else who’s going through or has gone through the same thing. My friend and (club basketball) teammate, Sydney Golladay, has been a great person to talk to about rehab and the mental obstacles that come with injury. She’s helped me realize that it’s not the end of the world, and that you will come back stronger.”
The challenges will be immense against Lincoln East as they try to navigate an extremely deep Class A field. Bovaird knows that the competition will be intense, but she feels Lincoln East can repeat their success of last season.
“Playing Pius and Alexis Markowski is always a difficult matchup. Fremont has a really strong group of players with Taylor McCabe and Sydney Golladay and play a really similar style as us so that leads to a really fast-paced game. Millard South has become somewhat of a rival the past few years after going back and forth in state and they’ve added some good players for this season.
“Overall, Class A and the Heartland Athletic Conference is so unpredictable that almost every game has the potential to be a tough one.”
Bovaird’s college plans, however, are already set. After working with the Cornhusker Shooting Stars since fifth grade, she’s ready for the rigors of college ball.
“I’ve committed to the University of Central Missouri (UCM) to play basketball. I had Division I offers and interest, but UCM recruited me hard, gave me the opportunity to compete for national championships, and was a perfect fit. I’m planning on majoring in biology and attending medical school after college.”
But before Bovaird starts competing for national championships in college, she wants a chance to compete for a state championship. She knows that once she returns from injury, she wants to show what she has worked on.
“I feel like my strength on the offensive end of the floor is my shooting ability. I think I can get shots of quickly and shoot at a high percentage. Defensively, I think my basketball IQ is a strength. Recognizing the optimal position on and off the ball has allowed me to compete with much faster players. Right now I’m focusing on getting healthy and stronger. Once I can really start practicing, I want to focus on scoring at all three levels (3 pointers, mid range, and near the basket).”