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01/23/2024 10:52 AMBasketball is an imperfect game, with many flaws that can occur in a given play. It serves as a great metaphor for life in making the best out of any setbacks or disappointments: something Olivia Cunningham has seen firsthand in making the most out of her senior season.
The Valley Regional senior guard grew up playing basketball, along with soccer and lacrosse, plus she additionally played volleyball for the Warriors. After being part of a small Valley girls’ hoops squad that reached a state final in 2023, the program did not have enough players to field a team this winter, and could not co-op with another school. So Olivia, determined to not have her final campaign take her away from the court, has found a spot on the boys’ basketball team as a captain.
“I have a competitive edge, and basketball is a competitive game. I love being active and making good friends through it,” says Olivia. “I have dedicated a lot of time to the sport, and I have learned that communication and leadership go hand in hand. It is about if a team can come together, and you need a leader on the court communicating to bring it together. The boys’ team has been so welcoming, and I knew a lot of the players growing up, so it was not much of a culture shock. Last season was a long and exhausting year with the girls’ team, because we made the state final with only eight girls who could play. Yet I have built chemistry with the boys’ team through practices, and it is about how we can make each other better.”
The speed and physicality of the game has certainly been a noticeable shift for Olivia. She adds, though, that through the noticeable contrast between the two playing fields, it only enhances her abilities by seeing how precise every movement must be.
“The boys’ game is a more athletic game. With the girls’ game, you have to be much more accurate with details,” says Olivia. “The passes have to be so sharp, and right to the person. Plays have to be executed properly. I think through playing the girls’ game, I have an advantage with being able to make those accurate reads and strong plays. It is a faster and more physical game with the boys, and I have sped up my game now.”
The lengthy and enduring Run to Mohegan Sun Olivia was actively a part of last winter taught her a great deal about how to persevere through necessary pressure. She additionally learned the true benefits of mutual trust among court colleagues.
“I have grown mentally since last year, because we played on such a big stage of the state final,” Olivia says. “I also learned that without pressure, there is no winning. Yet you cannot let things get to your head; you have to lock in and work together. If you have people you can trust, you know you can be successful.”
Olivia's stature with her height compared to her various teammates through the years has vaulted her from posting up in the paint to bringing the ball up the floor at guard. While it has shown her multitude of abilities, Olivia loves making the dish that cooks up a frenzy on the bench.
“I was a post player as one of the taller girls on the girls’ team, but I have played guard this year. I have utilized my versatility; I can post up, but I can also handle the ball and take the pressure off others,” says Olivia. “I love seeing crazy passes that can get the team hyped up. And I like to use my court vision for passes, and getting my teammates the ball so they can score.”
Valley boys’ hoops Head Coach Kevin Woods lauds Olivia for the effort she puts into the sport and her team every single day. He adds that she is also a balanced baller, who can contribute on both ends of the court.
“Olivia is incredibly dedicated to the game of basketball. She has a great work ethic, which has been instrumental to her development as a player,” says Woods. “What is most impressive about Olivia is her leadership skills, and how well-rounded she is as a student-athlete. I am excited to watch her progress on the court, both in the remainder of this season and throughout her collegiate career.”
The ebbs and flows of a given basketball game have taught Olivia a lot about the bigger picture in moving forward with her adult life. She notes that the lanes of language must be freely opened, and it must be about harnessing the hurdles to make smoother roads for the future.
“I have seen how important communication and team structure are. Emotions are flying on the court, and it is about how you can unite as a team,” Olivia says. “Basketball has also taught me about taking things in properly and making adjustments. It is not a perfect game, so you have to make adjustments to get better and work together as a team. I know I will never be perfect as a player, but I am better for it.”