By Jeff Odom
Laker/Lutz News Correspondent
Steinbrenner girls basketball player Bailey Hooker watched teammate Taylor Thigpen dribble the final seconds off of the clock, allowing the junior guard’s dream three years in the making to come true.
In a mob of white jerseys huddled around coach J.R. Allen, Hooker along with her teammates turned to the line of banners hung on the gymnasium wall and shouted “forever.”
Hooker, the Warriors’ leading scorer this year with 19.8 points per game, scored 16 to help Steinbrenner put away Freedom for the program’s first district championship on Feb. 3.
“We worked so hard,” Hooker said. “To finally put something up on that banner that we’ve been waiting for, for three years, is like fire. I’m so happy.”
For Hooker, it was her second time hoisting a district trophy this year. She did the same in October as a middle hitter on the volleyball team against, whom else but the Patriots.
Like with basketball, Hooker has been on Steinbrenner’s volleyball team since her freshman year, helping the Warriors to a 26-0 district record and three championships.
Basketball had less of a winning tradition, posting a 24-17 record, 12-8 in district, during the last two years and zero playoff appearances. That changed this season.
“It’s the best experience, because we didn’t have to really work that hard for the volleyball one, but to be in the middle of it and in the midst of it in the basketball championship, it’s ridiculous how much fire goes through your veins when you’re on the court,” Hooker said.
An All-Laker/All-Lutz News first team selection for volleyball, Hooker once again put the team on her back after a rough district semifinals contest against No. 4 seeded Chamberlain, which the Warriors squeaked through 56-48.
In practice the following day, Hooker made sure that her teammates were on the right page and led a players-only meeting to discuss what had occurred.
“We had a lot of emotional stuff going on, so we basically brought it all together,” Hooker said. She then added, “We let everything out because we’re a family. We’re a team and we knew we had one goal coming out into this season, and we weren’t going to let one bad game ruin our chances of winning the district title. We came together and pushed through, and we mentally got tough and ready for Freedom.”
In practice all week, Hooker said she worked specifically on shooting, which wasn’t where it needed to be in her eyes.
“This was going to be my game,” Hooker said of the district finals. “I spent time in practice just working on my shots and all of us contributed. Every single person stepped it up and did something they don’t normally do.
“I have so many words that I could say,” Hooker continued. “I’m so pumped about this, and so happy. We’re a part of forever, and our team is up on that wall forever.”
