For Clay County Bulldogs girls basketball player Ella Eads, scoring has never been just about putting the ball in the basket. Eads said it is about making the right play, and trusting everything she has built along the way.
“I know I need to make a play,” Eads said. “It’s not just go score, my teammates can go score, but make a play first of all. But when the shot goes up, I’m just playing. It’s just kind of natural.
That natural feel for the game has helped turn Eads into one of the Lady Bulldogs’ most dependable weapons. The senior guard, is currently on pace for career highs in both points and rebounds, continuing a steady rise that began long before she ever stepped onto the varsity floor.
Eads did not rush into the spotlight as a freshman. Instead, Eads said she embraced the grind of junior varsity, focusing on learning what high school basketball, and high school itself, was really about. By around Christmas of her sophomore season, that work paid off. Eads cracked the starting lineup, earning a role that she still holds close.
“That role was always special to me,” Eads said. “I played defense and I shot wide open shots when I got them.”
That season ended on one of the biggest stages possible, the state tournament, and with it came a new level of responsibility. Eads said she knew she had to become more than just a defender and spot-up shooter. Eads said she had to become a scorer, a rebounder and a leader.
Eads has led Clay County in scoring this season, averaging nearly 12 points per game, and has delivered in big moments, including multiple 16-point performances and an 18-point night that helped push a game into overtime. Her impact has not gone unnoticed, earning her First Team All–Tri-Lakes Conference honors.
Eads said her biggest work happens away from the scoreboard.
“Practice is always super, super important,” Eads said. “Practices completely translate over to how we play in the game. Handling practices and make sure everybody’s focused, making sure everybody’s doing their job is definitely something a lot of people we don’t see.”
Eads said basketball has been part of her life almost as long as she can remember. She started playing at age five, introduced to junior leagues by her parents, and later sharpened her game through AAU and travel ball.
That foundation now fuels both her production and her presence. Off the court, Eads also serves as the Vice President for the Class of 2026.
As Clay County continues its season, Eads said she is not chasing points, but chasing plays, effort and growth.