Friday Features: Energy sparks fiery start for Lee’s Cheeks
By Maurice Patton
The more energetic Carrie Cheeks is, the better she plays.
And the better the Lee University junior forward plays, the more energetic she is.
These days, the 6-foot-3 Cheeks is bursting with energy and brimming with confidence as she’s been the key cog in the Lady Flames’ 6-1 start.
“I figured out I had to step up, being one of the older girls on the team,” said Cheeks, the Gulf South Conference’s reigning Player of the Week after averaging 17.5 points and 14.0 rebounds in Lee’s two most recent victories – a 79-70 league win over visiting Shorter and a 73-47 win against Auburn-Montgomery.
“I worked on (my confidence) a lot over the summer: Trying to figure it out, how to be more of a threat offensively. I’ve gotten more confident this year.”
It shows. Cheeks is averaging a double-double (15.7 points, 11.6 rebounds per game), having achieved such efforts in six of Lee’s seven contests, with the exception coming in a 61-45 loss at Florida Southern.
Since that outing, the Lady Flames have won their last five games, with Cheeks asserting herself in the middle of her team’s attack.
“We usually play four-out, one-in, so it’s mainly just me on the inside,” she said. “We’ve got a talented set of guards. They’ve put me in really good places, and it helps when they’re able to occupy their defensive player. When they can shoot and rip and they’re more of a threat, the defense can’t help down on me as much.
“We’re able to take advantage of what’s inside, making passes we weren’t making before. I enjoy being in the low post, closer to the basket.”
Shooting 73 percent from the field, Cheeks is taking advantage of the opportunities as well.
“We talked about her not just being a back-to-the-basket player,” veteran Lee coach Marty Rowe said. “The game has evolved from that.
“As a freshman and sophomore, she wasn’t as involved. She’s become one of our veterans. It’s just a case of her maturing. She’s worked on some things. She’s such a high-energy player, everybody really feeds off that. And she’s worked on staying out of foul trouble, which has helped.”
Her ability to avoid whistles has allowed Cheeks to be more of a factor on the glass, as she’s nearly doubled her rebounding average from her previous two seasons (6.4 last year, 6.0 as a freshman).
“I’m pursuing the ball more,” she said. “I’ve been able to stay out of foul trouble, which makes me feel like I can be a little more aggressive, go after the ball a little harder, get after more loose balls, more rebounds.”
All of that plays into her on-court persona – which, she and Rowe agree is infectious.
“I like to give people energy,” Cheeks said. “When I’m doing well, I think I give off more energy. That helps everybody. Everybody’s hitting shots, running the court more, playing harder. That’s how I get my points, running the court and getting layups. We’re not selfish at all. If somebody’s scoring, we get them the ball.
“We all count on each other so much. Coach tells us we all have individual roles, and to be a superstar in your role. If my role is scoring and rebounding, I need to do that so others can do theirs.”
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