As the only returning starter for the Hilldale Lady Hornets basketballers this year, junior guard Catelin King will have a lot on her plate. But her coach Clif Warford feels she’s up to the task. 

“Catelin really stepped up for us late last season as a three-point shooter and scoring threat and we will look to her for both scoring and leadership this year. She has worked hard during the summer with her AAU team, Oklahoma Back to Basics, and I think she has the ability to play at the next level if she continues to push herself and work hard.” 

Though the Lady Hornets will have one senior on the team in Brooklyn Ellis who took last year off, Catelin as the most experienced player will be asked to provide the leadership for a young team. She says she will draw on what she has learned from former leaders including a recent Hilldale graduate. 

“I think setting a good example for the younger classmen so they can carry on the program is really important,” said King who is also in cheer and runs the 100 and 200-meter sprints in track. “I think I’ve learned about being a better teammate and helping the younger ones achieve their goals while improving their skills from the leaders before me. In particular Riley Barnoskie who graduated last year and helped me a lot on driving to the basket and becoming more confident in my shooting. I looked up to her because she was super competitive, always hustled and set a really good example for me. I think one of the biggest leadership challenges for me is learning to become more vocal but in the right way. I don’t want to come across like I’m telling people what to do but by showing them what to do and using my words to encourage everyone.” 

Catelin, who credits her mom with being her main motivator, has a goal of breaking her career high of 24 points this season and helping guide her young teammates to success. Her coach knows it will be a challenge but hopes Catelin’s leadership will get the job done by playoff time. 

“I know that we will have ups and downs as a young team, but our goal is to keep weathering the storm and ultimately be playing our best basketball in February,” said Warford.