February 22, 2021 at 8:02 a.m.
Lawrence earns girls' basketball's Hodag Award
Lawrence earns girls' basketball's Hodag Award
To say the least, Lawrence responded to the challenge.
She averaged 23 points per game for the Lady Hodags this year and earned the team's Hodag Award, presented during a banquet Thursday night in the RHS commons. She also shared, along with fellow senior Ella Schiek, the team's toughness award. Schiek was named the team's defensive player of the year.
While some teams have delayed or not held in-person banquets this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hodags held a scaled down version Thursday with no meal served. Players and parents gathered to listen to Clark and the rest of the Hodag coaching staff discuss the season and present awards.
"I love this night. I always think it's nice, especially this year, for the seniors to get their last recognition," he said.
Lawrence ascended into a starring role for the Hodags this year, and put up strong numbers despite drawing the attention of opposing defenses. She scored 564 points this year and surpassed 1,000 for her career. Along the way, she set program records for most steals and steals per game in a season (108/4.4), most free throws made in a season (118) and tied Van Zile's record for most field goals in a season (205).
"This is the face of our program and she represents our program how it should be done," Clark said. "I did talk to her a ton. I would reach out to her in so many ways and she always has such a great demeanor. It was never 'poor me.' Everything is about her team. Then her sportsmanship on the court. The coaches that I've talked to say so many good things about her and the love to watch her play."
Lawrence was a unanimous first-team All-Great Northern Conference selection for her efforts. Rhinelander's other representative on the all-conference team was Schiek, who received honorable mention. Though she tied for third in the conference in assists, Schiek was regarded more as a hard-nosed defender who often drew the assignment on the opposition's top offensive threat.
"There's a difference between a great defender and being a shutdown defender," Clark said. "When you hold (Medford's) Marissa Fronk to six points and hold her to one basket against you, you have no idea how much better it makes our team when I can say, 'I have a girl that can shut your kid down.'"
Both Lawrence and Schiek shared the toughness award, which the team considers its highest honor, and not one it hands out every year. It marked the first time players shared the award, according to team strength and conditioning coach Tara Gremban.
"I think you two really lifted each other up," Gremban said. "I don't think Ella would have been as tough this year if Rebecca wasn't as strong as she was as a player, and firm in her believe of where she wanted this program to go this year. And I don't think she would have been as successful if Ella hadn't been hustling, working so hard and driving her to be better."
Sophomore Ava Lamers received the team's most-improved award. She was second on the team in total points (148) and third in points per game (6.2).
"She's not afraid to work on things that make her uncomfortable," Clark said. "She might take two steps back to go forward later. She's not afraid to do that. She wants to be a player and has that athletic mindset. She made a huge step in her shot, and a huge improvement all season long."
Junior varsity awards went to Leah Jamison (most improved), Mabel Spencer (defensive player of the year) and Eva Hetland (Hodag Award).
Following back-to-back Great Northern Conference titles this year, Rhinelander finished fourth in league play and was 11-14 overall. Clark knows the returning players will have to improve, given that the team is graduating four of its nine varsity players.
"We all have to get better, me included," he said. "We're not striving for .500. We work too hard and everyone sacrifices so much to win as many games as you lose."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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