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03/21/2019 12:00 AMMoira Kellaher likes how quickly everything can change in a basketball game. This winter, Moira embraced the sport’s frenetic pace by snagging a slew of steals while playing multiple positions for the Indians.
Moira recently finished her sophomore season competing for the Guilford girls’ basketball team. After starting off as a shooting guard, Moira took control of the offense by playing point guard when one of her teammates got injured later in the year.
No matter where she played, Moira made a huge contribution on the defensive by averaging five steals per game for Guilford. Along the way, she helped the Indians qualify for both the SCC and Class L State tournaments and then notch a win in the latter bracket.
“I just love the excitement of the game. It is played at such a fast pace,” says Moira. “A big key for me has just been having confidence on the court. I just keep working hard in practice and give 100 percent all the time.”
Moira reads the body language of her opponents when she’s looking to reel in those steals. Moira gets a sense of where the ball is going next and then applies the pressure in order to force a turnover.
“On defense, I stay on my toes and try to always know where the ball is. I try to see where the people will go by the way they are looking, so we can grab the ball and go the other way with it,” Moira says. “I look at the opponent’s eyes and see where they are facing. It’s about determining that next move and how to stop them.”
At first, the transition from shooting guard to point guard was a little daunting for Moira. However, she was up for the challenge and continually played with more confidence as the campaign progressed.
“I was a little nervous making the switch. Over time, I got more confidence and more comfortable with the ball in my hands,” says Moira. “As time I went on, I found myself wanting the ball in my hands more often.”
Head Coach Bob Welsh says that Moira brings a spark to his squad on an everyday basis. Welsh adds that while Moira is only a sophomore, she’s already proving an influential leader among the Indians.
“Moira does whatever it takes to make the team stronger. She has a great work ethic and never takes a play off in practice,” says Welsh. “The great thing about Moira is she does everything we ask of her and does so with a smile. She is very popular among her teammates, and she set a great example for a program loaded with young freshmen players. They see her at practice every day, giving a maximum effort.”
The Indians made some playoff strides by posting a road win over Foran in the first round of states this season. With a young and hungry bunch of teammates, Moira feels that Guilford has found its formula for success going forward.
“We had a really young team, but it will help with our future, because the underclassmen had that experience and will continue to improve,” Moira says. “All of the experience from this year will help us in future situations, because I think we got comfortable under pressure.”