Junior Briana Saul drives to the basket for the score. Saul has proved that she is up to the challenge of helping the team win this season. Photo Credit:DAVID ROSENFIELD.
BY JACOB FIERMAN
The ball is inbounded to point guard Briana Saul and she brings it up the court. With each step she analyzes the situation in front of her, preparing to make a move to the net. A defender approaches her at the three-point line when she notices the open player under the basket. Saul dishes the ball out to her teammate allowing her to lay up and make the shot, creating a spark for the team as a whole.
Many kids develop a love for a sport at a young age, and that’s exactly what happened for Saul when it came to basketball. Her passion for the sport began at the age of seven, when her brother would ask her to practice with him. He taught her the basics and eventually she began to learn the fundamentals of the game. Saul has played in various leagues including The Jewish Community Center Basketball League, travel basketball for the Lady Lightning, and the Cooper City Optimist recreational league. When she was younger she was so good she had to be taken out of the girls’ league and placed into the boys’ league for the season before playing travel basketball.
“When I was 9 years old I asked the head of the league if I could be switched into the boy’s league,” Saul said. “He put me in and I played well so I decided to switch to travel basketball.”
Saul has a plethora of basketball skills and the ability to utilize them when a game is on the line. She can handle the ball well, shoot from anywhere on the court, and play lock-down defense.
“Briana is our primary ball handler and she is a player I look to in order to calm us down, get us set up, and bring the ball up the floor against pressure,” CCHS basketball Coach Mageean said. “She is very good at attacking the basket and finishing, as well as shooting the long range three pointer.”
Players don’t just become good at a sport. An athlete must dedicate time both on and off the court in order to hone their skills on a regular basis. Saul shows up to all practices, puts in 100 percent effort, and attempts to better her self at every opportunity.
“Every practice is a new experience,” Saul said. “We look to better ourselves while working on our fundamentals for the games.”
Each year, seniors from the CCHS varsity team graduate and new players fill their roles. Saul has stepped up big time to fill the shoes of basketball alumni Chanlir Segarra: a major factor for the team’s success last season. Saul’s coaches and teammates have noticed her skill and her ability to help cover the void left by the graduating senior.
“Briana has stepped up big for us this year,” Coach Mageean said. “She is able to distribute the ball to her teammates, handle pressure defense from other teams, and can score if she is open. She is a very dynamic player who understands her role, and has stepped up and more then filled those shoes from last year.”
This season the CCHS girl’s basketball team has all of the necessary components to be a winning squad. Both the team and Saul are improving as the year goes on. She helps the team to better itself and everyone learns something from each other. The players agree that Saul is an outstanding role model.
“She makes the team better by letting the girls know what they need to be doing and setting an example of how we should be playing,” Christina Ordiales said.
With all of her skills, the question becomes where will she take these talents? For most high school athletes, their goal after high school sports is to play in college. However, even though both Saul’s coach and her teammates believe she has a chance, Saul doesn’t necessarily want to pursue playing at the next level.
“If I had the opportunity I probably would not want to play college basketball,” Saul said. “I’ve loved basketball since I was a little kid, however I would like to pursue different things.”
The CCHS basketball team is on a winning streak with a record of 7-6. Saul is an important factor in this season’s success, and she will no doubt utilize these talents in future seasons to come. Wherever basketball takes her, she will bring her talent along for the ride.
