Every
basketball team needs its role players, and Xavier Prep is no exception. In
fact, the Gators have two of the top players in the state when it comes to
providing a specific element for success.
They are
juniors Addison Putnam and Paris Moore.
The 5-foot-10
Putnam is Xavier’s main 3-point shooter and has made a big difference in
countless games, putting the ball in the basket from virtually anywhere with a
high-arcing shot that flies out of her left hand. Putnam connected on 60
3-pointers during the regular season.
The 5-11
Moore has a tough job every game trying to shut down the opponent’s top
offensive player. She does it with a long reach, strong lateral movement and a
burst of speed that enables her to convert turnovers into driving layups almost
before anyone realizes what has happened.
Putnam
admitted she “was nervous to shoot’’ in the early days of club ball about five
years ago, but gradually developed a feel for the long shot and when to take
it.
She has
worked on her shot with Xavier coach Jennifer Gillom when Gillom was an
assistant coach and this season as the person in charge.
“Coach has
helped me a lot, given me confidence,’’ Putnam said. “In a game, she will tell
me to take my shot if I’m open and tells me to keep shooting even when I have
missed a few, that the shots will eventually start falling again.’’
Sometimes
Putnam will face frustrating situations when defenses swarm her, such as with
Goodyear Millennium in last week’s 6A Conference semifinals. She knows there
are other ways that she can contribute and hopes to put everything together
when the Gators meet Surprise Valley Vista for the state championship on
Wednesday (Feb. 28) at Arizona State’s Wells Fargo Arena.
“I can help
out by setting up my teammates with good assists,’’ said Putnam, who averages
10 points, 1.6 assists and 1.9 steals on defense. “I am hoping that in this
game, I can get that feeling and be able to help the team with some points.’’
Gillom is
hopeful for the perfect storm against Valley Vista and that Putnam finds her
shooting touch again.
“Those 3’s
are a bonus for us,’’ Gillom said. “When she’s on, she can really knock them
down.’’
Putnam would
like Xavier to win a title for seniors such as Katie Hassett and Montana
Oltrogge.
“We know how
much it would mean to them,’’ Putnam said.
“This has
already been a great season, playing with the team that I love. Game days are
so much fun. The end of the game (a win) is a great experience.’’
Moore said
the Gators were a bit nervous against Millennium, but were able to turn things
around.
“It was kind
of scary, knowing we were playing in a big place like that (ASU). But we
started to say, “We got this,’ and were able to stay in the game. After the
first quarter, we were being like family, like we always are. And it’s great to
have everybody cheering us on. I think we will be more used to our surroundings
this time.’’
Moore has
been playing club ball with Putnam, Hassett, Oltrogge and junior point guard
Leilani McIntosh for quite some time. That familiarity is what helped draw her
to Xavier.
There is no
doubt what her role is.
“Definitely
defense,’’ Moore said. “Ever since I can remember, I have been on the best
player (guarding) most of the time. I take a lot of pride knowing that is what
I have to do. And if I happen to struggle, I have confidence that my teammates
will help push me through it. Sometimes I can’t see a screen, but they usually
tell me it’s coming.’’
Gillom said
she just tells Moore to go out and do what she needs to do, get the job done.
“She knows
that’s her job,’’ Gillom said. “On offense, she probably could score any time
she wants, but she plays well within the team concept. She’s got those drives,
too and she needs to learn how to finish them.’’
Moore
tumbles to the floor quite often on defense and when she is driving toward the
basket after making a steal.
“I just know
I need to get back up and keep going,’’ she said.
Moore had
good numbers across the board during the regular season – 7.2 points, 3.9
rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.6 steals.
Her older
sister competes in track for Pima Community College in Tucson and Moore enjoys
doubling up in track for Xavier in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the 4x100- and
4x400-meter relays.
“I think I’m
naturally fast and that helps carry me across the finish line,’’ she said. “I
think playing basketball helps me with my footwork for track.’’
Believe it
or not, Moore also has time to have a job at a pizzeria in east Phoenix. Not
delivery, but if she had to, she could get the food to the intended destination
in quick order.
That’s fast,
and there will be more speed when the Gators return to the gym in 2018-19.
“We will
lose our bigger players (to graduation), but we will be fast, maybe one of the
fastest teams in the state,’’ she said.
Moore and
Putnam should be able to provide XCP with the energy it needs.