Stone Memorial junior Lauren Clark did not just change uniforms this season. She stepped into a new system, a new identity and, as it turns out, the perfect place to grow.
Clark transferred from Cumberland County in the offseason, but the move has looked seamless for the guard. Basketball runs deep in the Clark household. Her mother played at Middle Tennessee State, her father excelled in multiple sports, and Lauren has carved out her own path as a versatile, high-energy contributor who can play nearly every position on the floor.
“I personally wouldn’t pick a better team to play for, or a better coach to play for,” Clark said. “On the court, you can definitely tell we get along. We have good chemistry, and we prove it on the court.”
Stone Memorial’s up tempo style has fit Clark perfectly. Clark said the team’s new pace complements both her strengths and the roster’s overall athleticism.
“From the start, we come out ready to play, and I think most teams don’t expect it,” Clark said. “But it’s been very helpful. We’ve played each game with confidence and it’s been great.”
That confidence shows in how the Lady Panthers use her. Clark starts for Stone Memorial and shifts between guard and forward depending on the matchup.
Even with the on-court success, Clark said the moments that mean the most to her come after the buzzer.
“Getting to experience like a true win, playing together,” Clark said. “Then just all coming together and scremaing and yelling and having fun.”
For Clark, basketball has become more than competition. It has become a teacher. Clark said the game has helped her mature, build character and understand leadership in ways she did not expect.