Program Spotlight: Grace Christian Academy

The Grace Christian Academy (Franklin, TN) Lady Lions entered this season with a lot of question marks. They lost a lot of contributors from last season, along with a change in the coaching staff. This brought a lot of new challenges and obstacles to overcome. Coach Michael Couey and Coach Crystal Tinnon were appointed to lead these Lady Lions and so far, they have answered the calling that was bestowed on them. Playing fast and scrambling, these Lady Lions are young and scrappy. Playing to the best of their ability night in and night out, these girls are going to make you bring your A-game. Their record may not reflect positives results in a tough district, but the foundation has been laid for something big and special to happen amongst this program for years to come. With the season underway, the Lady Lions step onto the court looking for a dog fight every night. These ladies are going to cause havoc, making sure their opponent has to step up their game. This team isn’t a cakewalk, but a tough competitor every time the whistle is blown. They are going to fight and claw their way until the final buzzer sounds. As they gain more valuable experience, look for this program to grow into something teams will have to worry about. Key contributors Carlie Marson (Senior, SG)- This 5’8 shooting guard is such a fierce competitor. She wants the challenge of locking up the opponent’s best player the full length of the court. She loves the defensive aspect of the game and prides herself in trying to eliminate her opponent’s strengths. Carlie has a quick first step that enables her to get to the rim. She has an effective one-dribble pull up that complements her ability to shoot the three. She is a gym rat who possesses the mentality of “first in, last out.” Adyson Wolf ( Junior, PG)- This 5’4 ball of fire is quick. She was given a new role to be a distributor for her Lady Lions team, and she has effectively stepped up to the challenge. Adyson has a defensive mindset and is very scrappy. Her offensive game has grown over the course of the year, but her development as a leader and facilitator has taken tremendous strides. Averi Thorne (Senior, PF) - Averi is one of two seniors on the team. Though she isn’t a tall post player standing around 5’8, she has taken on the challenge of just getting the little things done. Averi has a knack for being a solid rebounder, who loves the opportunity not to try to block shots, but take charges. She takes pride in that and is one of the best in doing so. Averi will step out to shoot the occasional three, but her strength is around the boards and providing second chance opportunities for her teammates. Stock Risers Charlie Black ( Sophomore, PF) - This 5’8 lefty has the heart of a lion. She has a knack for just being around the ball. Charlie possesses the ability to get to the rim, along with a nice mid-range shot. Charlie can step out and shoot the 3, but if a defender tries to guard her on the perimeter, she can utilize her speed to blow past her defender. As she gains more experience, look for her to be one of the key contributors to this program’s future. Campbell Spencer (Sophomore, SG) - 5’7 and quick, Campbell is a hard worker and a fierce competitor. She loves to lock up any opponent on the defensive end no matter the size. On offense, Campbell is an efficient three-point shooter, but can also get to the rack. She has good court vision, which allows her to facilitate the ball to open teammates. Campbell is solid with the ball in her hands. Look for her to also be a key contributor to this program as she gains more playing experience. Natalie Kaye (Freshman, SG) - This 5’8 guard leads the Lady Lions in scoring. She has put together an impressive freshman campaign so far, which has helped lay the foundation for a bright future for this ball club. Natalie has great range from the arc, yet can finish inside the perimeter from various levels. She is a solid defender who anticipates well on the defensive end. McKenzie Kaye (Freshman, PF)- Double trouble, McKenzie is the other half of the Kaye sisters suiting up for Grace Christian. McKenzie is a solid mid-range shooter, which complements her ability to get to the rim. She is quick and causes mismatches when bigger forwards try to guard her due to her quickness and speed. She is a versatile utility option for the club. She has a knack for rebounding and starting the break for her team in transition. Look for her to grow as she gets more playing time on the court. Waiting In The Wings [player_tooltip player_id="245339" first="Ava" last="Granzow"] (Sophomore, C) This 5’11 post player transferred to the Lady Lions program and had to sit out this year. Though she is getting JV experience, her talent has the coaching staff excited for the future. Ava has good footwork and can dominate from block to block. She can control the boards and can shoot the occasional mid-range shot. Look for her to be one of the catalysts of this young Lady Lions ball club. Larkin Meyers (Sophomore, SG)- Another student-athlete with a bright future, Larkin is a quick guard who can shoot the three. She anticipates well on defense and is very scrappy. Larkin possesses a nice mid-range shot that she utilizes throughout the course of the game. Larkin isn’t able to log any varsity minutes this year because she transferred in. Though she isn’t soured by the opportunity of not playing this year on varsity, she has used her time to become a student of the game. Aubrey Black (Freshman, PG)- The little engine that could, Aubrey is a solid contributor for the lady lions on both JV and Varsity. She has good court vision and the ability to shoot the ball well. She is very sneaky and is quick to go double-team an opponent. Look for her to grow into a solid contributor for GCA. Madelyn Gregg (Freshman, PF) - Solid contributor who does the little things well. Known as a back to the basket player, she has grown in confidence with shooting the mid-range shot. She prides herself on controlling the boards on the defensive end, which leads to easy buckets in transition for her team. Avery Wolf (Freshman, PF)- Avery is a solid contributor for the Lady Lions. Young and smart, Avery pays attention to detail and is a student of the game. Look for her to help out this program as she gains more experience playing. Lyric Hartman- (Freshman, SF) Young and athletic, Lyric is fast and fierce when it comes to defense. She loves to defend, yet has the ability to contribute on the offensive end. Look for her to help out the program as she gains more experience on JV. Scout’s Outlook This Lady Lions ball club has a tremendous future ahead of them. The more playing experience they have together, the better this club will be. The foundation has been laid for something big to happen for this program. This ballclub is poised to compete in a tough district. Look for them to make great strides towards becoming a solid program for years to come. Their trajectory arrow is pointing up on the PGH Tennessee market gauge.