Raven Ward has been a factor in Western Albemarle’s success the last two seasons. But if Wednesday night’s 52-25 victory over Albemarle was any indication, the senior could be due for a monster year.
Ward, along with junior Sydney Fewell, ignited the Warriors’ offense as part of a strong first half, staking the Warriors to a 32-15 halftime lead. Ward had 12 points before the break and 16 for the game, but it was how she got those points that was perhaps most impressive.
“Tonight she showed you a lot though — some drives, some up and unders and some post moves,” said Western coach Kris Wright. “Just in general she showed you what she’s capable of.”
In the past, Ward has shown the ability to score in the post but hasn’t often shown the inclination or capacity to put the ball on the floor. That new facet could make her a much more dangerous weapon, particularly after she also pulled down four rebounds. It’d also make her an even more prominent member of an already formidable group of post players for the Warriors that includes Ellen Shaffrey and Carolyn Schneller.
“We were working—we’ve got some bigs,” Ward said. “And that’s good because it gives us a chance to work against each other (in practice) and make each other better.”
Maggie Kooken may also quickly prove she deserves inclusion in that list of Western’s post power. The sophomore forward pulled down 11 boards for the Warriors, building some momentum off her solid volleyball season.
Fewell, who finished with 11 points and three assist is also a clearly improved player, giving Western another guard option on a team that already boasts standout point guard Kelsey Swanson and up-and-comers like Mady Baker and Emily Marbury. Fewell also proved to be a scrappy defender, helping shut down an Albemarle offense that struggled to get into a groove.
“She has developed so much since last year,” Ward said. “She’s shooting the ball great and she’s doing a great job.”
Western will face some tougher tests in the post going forward of course. The Patriots didn’t boast any true post players in the lineup Wednesday and in turn had trouble shutting down the Warriors’ inside-out style of play.
“I told the girls you’ve got to keep in contact because they know how to post up and their guards know how to get the ball to them,” said Albemarle coach Harry Terrell, back on the sidelines for the first time this season after stepping down from Charlottesville’s coaching job after the 2009 season. “But we’ll get there. I told them not to worry about it, because each game you want to build upon it.”
Erin Jackson finished with eight points to lead an Albemarle team that’ll spend the first few weeks of the season finding an identity. Shaniqua Agee chipped in six points.
