By Kyle LoJacono
Academy at the Lakes senior guard Amelia Oliver was a shooter
from the first day she picked up a basketball at age 4.
She’s spent countless hours in gyms working on her shooting
stroke. That drive helped her develop into one of the area’s most lethal
outside threats, and also allowed her to land a spot with the Warriors of
Bacone College, an NAIA program in Oklahoma.
“I’ve got three siblings who play, and my mom and dad have been
playing their whole life,” Oliver said. “It was kind of a family thing.”
Oliver, who moved from Michigan after her sophomore year, made
her plans official when she signed her letter of intent May 17. Her journey
toward the college ranks picked up when she transferred from Sunlake as a
senior.
“When I came to academy I thought it would give me the
opportunity to do something like this,” said Oliver, who will study elementary
education.
She played volleyball and softball along with basketball with
the Wildcats.
Oliver’s team-high 18.9 points per game on the court helped the
academy go 23-6, win district and regional championships and make the Class 2A
final four. The softball squad also went 14-5, won a district title and reached
the regional finals.
“Volleyball I just played for fun, and it helped me to get to
know some of the girls on the basketball team,” Oliver said. “Then I started
playing basketball, and that was the greatest experience of my life. I’ve
always dreamed of doing something like that and make the final four. Softball
we got really far too, so I’m really thankful for this whole year.”
Oliver is the fourth Wildcat to sign with a college in 2012, the
third from the girls basketball team. The academy had 16 seniors play sports
this school year.
“I’ll put that percentage up against any other school out
there,” said Wildcats athletic director Tom Haslam. “I think you’ll see this as
the new norm here.”
