Shooting, rebounding, assisting, and all things basketball come naturally to Senior Courtlyn Mitchell. Mitchell has had an outstanding senior season so far and there is no doubt that she will continue to have success. She is leading the team in points, steals, and assists per game (maxpreps.com).

   Preparation is very important for basketball players; they have to make sure that they keep their skills fresh and stay in shape. “I prepare for basketball season by playing other sports to keep me in shape. I also play club basketball which helps me get better and become a stronger player. Playing club basketball is more competitive than school basketball, but I really enjoy seeing and playing against my club teammates throughout

the high school season,”said Mitchell. As the Girls Basketball

Team is heading into League, Mitchell has proven herself time and time again. She is able to create plenty of scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. “Mitchell is great at driving to the basket and getting through other teams’ defense. She can also pull defenders towards her which lets other teammates get open and get ready to shoot,” said Senior Captain Kianna Lefear.

   “Mitchell’s athleticism allows her to get to the rim and make plays even in tough situations, which helps keep us competitive. Now that the team is healthy and at full capacity, we are able to build around that strength and expand her impact in other areas of the game,” said Coach Romie Apostol.

   Speed is a great quality to have as a basketball player and Mitchell exhibits this outstanding feature. “Mitchell has great speed and is able to get our offense going and able to get back on defense,” said Lefear.

   “Mitchell is quiet by nature but is very dependable. When she’s given a specific role or task, she executes it. She is also one of the fastest players on our team which allows us to raise our defensive intensity, especially against quicker opponents,” said Apostol.

   To be a good basketball player, it is important to have great court awareness and Mitchell has just that. “Mitchell is a reactive player who reads what the defense gives her and adjusts accordingly, making her a smart player who is able to make the right decisions on the court,” said Apostol.

   Basketball is not just a physical game but also a mental one. It is very important to keep a good mindset in order to be successful. “I try to learn from challenges instead of letting them affect me during games and practices. If I make a mistake, I try not to let it affect the rest of my game and move on,” said Mitchell.

   “Something that sets her apart from others is her quick first step. When she is locked in and able to get a step on her defender, she becomes very difficult to stop,” said Apostol.

   Mitchell is also a great teammate; she loves seeing her teammates be successful just as much as herself. “The most memorable part of my time playing basketball here was seeing one of my teammates get their career high in points and overall have a really great game,” said Mitchell.

   Basketball is very familiar for Mitchell as she plans to take her skills to the next level. “I have been playing basketball for eight years and plan on playing flag football and basketball at MiraCosta Community College after high school,” said Mitchell.