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02/28/2023 07:44 AMOut of the five positions possible for her to play on a basketball court, it has ended up advantageous for Kelsey Murray to take on the shooting guard assignment because she has emerged with a pair of the sharpest shooting hands in the Southern Connecticut Conference.
The Yellowjackets’ girls’ basketball junior started in the sport in 4th grade and stuck with it as her only sport–competing at all levels from Sal Biddy to AAU, and of course, at East Haven for high school hoops. This season for the Yellowjackets, as a key bench player who also starts on occasion, Kelsey has crafted numbers of 5.4 points per game and a shooting percentage of 31.5 from three-point range to aid the Yellowjackets’ swarm to 13 wins, and SCC and Class MM State Tournament berths.
“I just knew I had a lot of talent with the sport, and I spent a lot of time and effort in the gym,” says Kelsey. “My success has come from just working hard, going to practices when I can, working out with friends, and simply staying motivated.”
Of course, Kelsey leaps at the slot on the hardwood that calls upon her to fire the rock on a majority of occasions. Yet, as basketball often is a game of averages through various plays and outcomes, there are nights where she does not have the hot hand and must stay confident in her abilities.
“I would say I am a good shooter and love it; I have done a lot of shooting practices over the years,” Kelsey says. “I know I cannot get down on myself when I end up having a bad shooting game. I want to win for this team, so I have to do other things and abilities to win when that happens.”
Speaking further to those added items of her overall skill set, Kelsey states that being a student of the game 365 days a year has enabled her to make snap decisions with precision when it comes to either tossing the ball to the hole or handing off to teammates.
“My decision-making process comes from having strong court vision and IQ and knowing when my shot is or is not there,” says Kelsey. “It is also about passing to people in situations where they have a higher shooting percentage. I have been playing AAU since 5th grade, and it has helped a lot through skill sessions, shooting practices, and just playing year-round. When you play year-round, it keeps your game sharp and a lot better since it is all you have to focus on.”
Even in the comfy confines of her own home, Kelsey is constantly working to craft a consistent shot. Being a sound shooter also entails a lot of trial and error, though when you can adjust on the fly, you can strike from anywhere–including beyond the arc.
“My shooting percentage has improved over the course of my high school career; I am always out in the driveway and watching videos on shooting to improve, and I keep adjusting my shot when I need to,” Kelsey says. “My favorite shot is probably the three-pointer, but I am also good with pull-up jumpers. I feel very confident with my shooting and, if it does not go in, then I adjust. But then once that first shot goes in, my confidence goes up.”
Whether on the floor for the opening tip or providing a mid-game scoring surge, Kelsey provides a sound impact on all fronts of the sport, per Head Coach Mike Archambault.
“Kelsey has been one of the first off the bench, as well as stepping in as a starter on a few occasions,” says Archambault. “Kelsey gives us an offensive spark off the bench. She is a very good shooter, but she can also get to the basket. Even though she is a scorer, she looks to give the ball to the open player first. She has also been committed to the defensive side of the court, working to put our team in a position to win.”
Kelsey and the Yellowjackets did not need any luck to get to those 13 regular-season triumphs. Rather, it was on the backs of a close-knit club and confident bunch of athletes who give their all on a nightly basis, no matter the matchup staring across the court at them.
“This season, it fueled us knowing that we can beat any team on any night and that any team can beat us any night,” Kelsey says. “We have to never take any team lightly and have a lot of team camaraderie. We have to try our best no matter what. We also have to stay focused, try our best, and play until the very last second.”