After making Van Buren girls basketball history last season, Abigail Netherton said she has not taken a single break in the gym.
The junior guard, who drilled the game-winning jump shot that sent the Eaglettes to their first-ever state championship appearance, said she went straight from Murfreesboro’s spotlight to the Van Buren gyms across the region. Since the school year began, Netherton said she has focused on two things: School and basketball.
Netherton said the intent is by design. Netherton said if Van Buren is going back to the state title game, she wants to make sure she is a vital piece of that puzzle.
“A lot of coaches like to see that you can just like direct the floor,” Netherton said. “Even if you’re not scoring, they like to see that you can get other people scoring and make good, smart plays.”
Netherton said that floor-general mentality is becoming her identity. Netherton’s postseason heroics last year cemented her as a centerpiece of the Eaglettes’ resurgence. Netherton said now she is aiming to expand her game even further.
Netherton began her junior season in November against Upperman. Netherton said despite the loss to the Bees, the turnaround from making A’s to making buckets was quick, but necessary.
“We lost but then we can see like oh, well we have a fresh start this year so we can immediately get back into it and try to improve,” Netherton said.
Netherton said she looks to make specific tweaks to her game this season.
“I want to have more assists per game,” Netherton said. “I want to get that up to like 10 [per game,] and then also increase my scoring and play smarter.
Most of last year’s roster returns with Netherton this season. Netherton has sparked the Eaglettes’ offense this season, scoring 72 or more points in three straight games.