Senior Hoopers Key to Lady Leps’ District Title
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The seniors on the district championship La Grange girls basketball team, left to right, manager LaDonije Lewis, and starters Ella Nygren and Kylie Trlicek. Photo by Jeff Wick
Ella Nygren and Kylie Trlicek have been playing basketball together since they were kindergarteners.
Meanwhile, fellow senior LaDonije Lewis just transferred from Smithville to LHS her final year of high school, and couldn’t play the game she loved, but instead threw herself into being the best team manager she could be.
They may have taken different roads, but all three were celebrating as undefeated district champs Tuesday – and we’re proud to honor them as this week’s Fayette County Athletes of the Week.
“Those two senior players, I can’ say enough about them, defensively and offensively, the years they committed. I’m so happy for them to finish off their senior year as undefeated district champs,” said La Grange head coach Ryan O’Neal. “LaDonije, coming in, she’s a big part of what we do too. She helps all the younger players and keeps things lively in practice.”
We caught up with the trio just minutes after their 46-27 win over Navasota Tuesday in the regular season finale, which clinched that title.
For Nygren and Trlicek, Tuesday’s game marked their final game at Lep Gym.
“There were definitely a lot of emotions,” Trlicek said. “We love this team and we don’t want the season to end, but we’re ready for a long run in playoffs.”
“It’s a bittersweet moment,” Nygren said. “The emotions are high, but that’s why you have to put in all that work in practice – and it comes together in times like this.”
For Nygren and Trlicek, the number of practices and games they shared over the years was amazing.
“Since kindergarten we’ve gotten to know so much about each other as players and friends and that adds to our connection on the court,” Nygren said.
“It’s been so much fun ... to be the only ones left standing after all this time is pretty cool,” Trlicek said.
Lewis meanwhile said her new team “was really accepting of me and we’ve grown closer – and now we’re here.”
Now the Lady Leps, led by these seniors, will try to keep the party going in the postseason, which begins next week.