From the middle of the first year of study, Kendall Grant was on the Oswego team.
However, things weren't always going well for the Panthers on the basketball court at the time. Under the guidance of a new coach Come ParsonsGrant was trying to help the program turn the corner.
“As a player, whatever she could do, everyone just has to trust her and believe that we're a different team than we've been the last three years,” Grant said of Parsons. “I did a lot of pre-season work.
“I think we just need to believe that we are a good team. We need to gain confidence.”
Some of those old feelings returned Monday for Grant and company as they lost to Dixon in a 41-23 non-conference game. The host Panthers were actually only down 10–7 at halftime before Dixon exploded.
After scoring the first 16 points of the third quarter, Dixon (7-0) took control and never looked back. Ahmiri McGowan had an amazing game, scoring 16 points with 16 rebounds and seven steals.
The 5-foot-11 Grant contributed for Oswego (4-3), scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The third quarter was emblematic of what Grant knows needs to change in the program.
Especially if the Panthers want to get back to their winning ways.
“We're used to losing,” Grant said. “Sometimes we have a bad first half and the other team has a bad first half and we just assume they're going to have a great second half and we don't.
“I’ve worked hard to become a better leader and hold myself to a high standard because it’s important for everyone to see.”
Parsons, a 2014 Oswego East graduate, knew what she was up against when she took the job.
“Changing the whole culture from last year was very difficult,” Parsons said. “Losing games knocks everyone's confidence. My goal is to make them understand that even if the game doesn't go your way, you still have to fight.
“A few shots to the other team doesn’t mean the game is over.”
Still, Parsons is glad she has a veteran like Grant to rely on.
“She has a great basketball IQ,” Parsons said. “She's constantly talking to her teammates, which definitely takes away from me as a coach. She already knows what it's all about, knows what she wants to do and communicates with her teammates.”
On the court, Grant's game has evolved over the years. She was primarily a post player her first two seasons before expanding her game to the perimeter last winter.
“At the end of my sophomore year, I started filming a little more,” Grant said. “Last year I was more internally and externally.
“I've been inside and outside this year, but my shot hasn't been falling lately, so I've been focusing on being inside more and letting the shots come to me.”
Parsons is doing everything he can to maintain Grant's confidence in the midst of this downturn.
“When you talk about someone over 5-foot-9 who can score, who can hit, who can play inside and outside, he's definitely hard to guard,” Parsons said. “You definitely love having someone like that, not to mention the kind of leader she is.
“Even the best shooters panic, so she just has to keep her head up, helping her use her skills inside the paint so she knows that when her shot doesn't fall, she can still make something underneath.”
Last month, Grant also made a decision about her future, continuing her basketball and golf career next year at North Central College.
“I went back and forth between them and finally decided I couldn’t give up one,” Grant said. “I decided to choose a school that would allow me to work with this.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
