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03/07/2023 06:26 AMNo matter whether she was watching her family play in New York from afar as a spectator or had the ball in her hands down one with seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter of a game for the North Branford girls’ basketball team, Callie Holzer craves competition and always aims to satiate it with a W on the board.
Hoops has always held firm within the family of the T-Birds’ junior shooting guard, as her father and brother both played the sport in high school. After dancing in her younger years, she started on the hardwood in 4th grade and worked her way to the high school circuit.
This winter, Callie sported sound numbers of 10.3 points and 4.2 steals per game for the T-Birds, who secured both Shoreline Conference and Class S State Tournament berths following an 8-12 regular season. She additionally helped lead the T-Birds in their Class S State Tournament first-round victory over Stafford on March 1, with 23 points.
“I used to live in New York City and watched my dad and brother compete on the court, and through that, I developed a love for the sport,” says Callie. “I have to give credit to my teammates and the girls in town I have played with over the years. We have been playing together since we were young. I am always thinking of them out there. I have always been a competitor, and I just love seeing my team succeed. It fuels my competitiveness. It is great to see a team accomplish a common goal.”
Callie loves going from beyond the arc and striving to shoot for any extra points she can for North Branford when she harnesses the rock. She conversely notes that when the shot is off, it can build pressure mentally. Yet Callie counteracts any negative headspace with gratitude towards the game.
“I love shooting three-pointers. It sounds cliche, but I love getting range on my shots and getting points,” Callie says. “It can be frustrating, though, because there is so much pressure to make those shots, and then missed shots can mess with your head. It was a challenge to recover from misses when I was younger, but I realized that basketball is a privilege. I am lucky to play the sport and have so many opportunities within it. I know I have to keep working hard and fulfill my potential.”
Whether at the top of the key or going for three, Callie knows, as a seasoned veteran, that successful shot selection starts in one’s head. She declares that no matter the bodies in her way, the focus is always honed in on the hoop.
“I have definitely been more confident with my offensive game this year,” says Callie. “If you go into a game thinking your shot is off, then that will be what happens for the entire game. Another big part of my game on offense is that I just look at the basket and ignore the defenders to shoot the shot I want.”
When it comes to fast-approaching but crucial decisions on when to be a point producer or a ball facilitator on any given play, Callie remarks that sharp knowledge of the court and faith in the person next to her carries not only her but also her squad far.
“A lot of my decision-making comes from developing a good basketball IQ. As a team, we have been working on looking up at the floor and seeing each other,” Callie says. “This year was tough; our whole starting lineup was basically new. It was tough to build team chemistry at first, but we just had the mentality that we wanted to get better, push ourselves, be powerful, and be fast. We worked our butts off this year.”
North Branford Head Coach Sabrina LeMere appreciates Callie’s tenacity on the floor, but she equally admires and cherishes her progression and passion as a leader for the T-Birds.
“Callie is a great athlete who has the job of defending the best player on another team almost every game. She is aggressive and focused when doing her job,” says LeMere. “She is a great leader for her teammates and has been a great spark for us this year. I have grown to develop a strong relationship with her, and, by far, as a person and player, she has excelled this season. As a coaching staff, we look to have Callie as a burst of fire on defense, and if we need a steal, she gets it. I am excited to have her for her senior season.”
Wherever her future beyond North Branford takes her, Callie is 100% sure she wants to handle it with an orange ball in her sure and steady hands. Only three years through her tenure with the T-Birds on the court, she has learned a great deal about dedication to a club and a winning mentality in all aspects and facets of life.
“I am hoping to attend college and play basketball; I just cannot see myself not playing the game,” says Callie. “One thing I have learned through basketball is loyalty; I know my teammates have my back in any situation on and off the court. I also learned about having a good attitude and how to overcome challenges. You can only worry about things that are in your control and how you can get better.”