By: Nate Calvin
The Stryker Lady Panthers are off to a great start this as they stand at 5-0 on top of the BBC. Coming off an appearance in the District Finals a year ago where they lost to Hicksville, and many players returning, the expectations going into the season were high. Part of their success can be attributed to the play of senior post player Haley Doehrmann.
She entered the 2017-18 season needing only 42 points to reach 1,000 points in her Stryker career. Doehrmann, who had two siblings also play basketball, tallied 37 points thru Stryker’s first two games of the season putting her just five away from the mark as the Lady Panthers traveled to Montpelier on November 30th. Early in the second quarter of that game, Doehrmann hit a jumper from the top of the key to pass the 1,000 point mark and help Stryker to a 44-33 win over the Lady Locomotives to remain perfect on the season.
What a lot of people aren’t aware of is Haley is a very accomplished barrel rider also. “It’s a lot of work to balance everything” she said. “I play AAU basketball in the spring, do the equestrian in the summer, and then in the fall I play volleyball and I’m also a member of an equestrian team. In the winter everything else shuts down for basketball season”, Doehrmann added.
Reaching the milestone is something see has seen others before her accomplish. “I was a manager when I was little, and I grew up around the game and watching others reach their goals.” When asked what advice she had for young kids watching her the advice was simple. “Just work hard to accomplish your dreams, nothing is going to happen without hard work”.
Head coach Steve Brown commented on how Haley’s growth as a player has helped the team. “She understands what she needs to do for the team. She can play all five positions on the courts, but we need her in the post. Her rebounding has really improved but that’s just an example how she does what makes the team better”, he added.
Brown also commented on the quality of the kids in the program in the past and in the present makes his job fun. “I love coming to practice” he said. “We’ve really been blessed with quality kids on and off the court here.” It’s safe to say with Doehrmann’s leadership that the Lady Panthers will be a force to be reckoned with at tournament time in late February.
Nate can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com