#5 Kali Tasker
Tasker has been in and around the game of basketball since a very young age, as her father was a coach and has consistently encouraged Kali to play basketball growing up, and always pushed her to be the best player she could be. Tasker has always been a big factor on the teams she’s played on. She got to lead the junior varsity while also getting the privilege to play varsity her sophomore year and then she received the full call up to varsity her junior year and got varsity minutes on a very good roster that made a deep playoff run during the 2022-23 season. For Tasker’s senior year, she was thrown head first into varsity basketball, being expected to play most of the game, and to also be a difference maker both on defense and in the locker room.
#20 Zoey May
Like her close friend and fellow senior, May has played basketball for many years now. Zoey, the second oldest of four, and her brother Max, the oldest, both took to basketball early, and have always strived to be a crucial piece of the teams they were a part of. Zoey was essentially the leader of the JV Squad for her first two years of high school basketball, and even saw some varsity time her sophomore year. May got the full call up to varsity as a junior, and showcased her sharpshooting skills that had an immediate impact on the already impressive roster. Even though May received good minutes the year preceding her senior year, she was placed in a much more demanding role for her final season, being expected to play almost all of the game and be a main source of offensive efficiency.
#15 Gabriel Groves
After lots of convincing from two sophomores on the basketball team, Gabe Groves decided to take to the court her junior year. Gabe knew joining the team late in her career would be tough, but she was always excited to help as much as she could. Though her role wasn’t as large as the other seniors in terms of productiveness on the court, Groves provided the team with another person who was always willing to work and give the team good competition for practice day in and day out. Groves enjoyed her time on the team, and is anxious to start softball season.
Senior Leadership
The Seniors were quick to voice their excitement for the upcoming seasons of Lady G-Men basketball, and they hoped that in a year full of ups and downs, their impact would stick with the players on the team as they grow in their respective high school careers. Zoey May when asked of her leadership role answered, “Personally, I try to stay as positive as possible, even when our team is not getting the results we want. We still try to have fun and make basketball a positive experience to be a part of.” May took on the role of being a motivator her senior year, and tried tirelessly to keep the spirits high, and did a very good job. Just from watching the team, it was evident that the girls were all excited to be there, and they were always looking forward to their next matchup. Kali Tasker had a similar response to the leadership question: “Even though it’s my last year, just trying to help the younger girls understand the game and the plays so that they can build a solid team for years to come is always my goal. I try to be the best role model I can be.” This quote by Tasker shows how she embodied leadership, as she tried to help the team over the course of season, but also she was determined to help the girls develop and become better players for the next few years. As I said, Gabe Groves wasn’t expected to produce a whole lot for the team, but her senior presence was surely felt. Groves was always quick to lend a helping hand in practice, and on the bench during the season. Groves showing up to practice and games despite not seeing much court time was an inspiring story for the team, as it showed persistence and dedication. Having another senior leader in Groves was good developmentally for the team this season.
The Playoff Picture
With Waynedale on the schedule for the first playoff game, the seniors knew they were in for the biggest challenge of the season. May knew the chances of heading into enemy territory and facing a top seeded team would be low, but as her leadership role suggests, she remained positive and was confident that win or lose, they were going to march into Waynedale and give it their best. Tasker was nervous for the matchup, but was quick to embrace the underdog role, stating they had nothing to lose and was sure they would give it everything as well. Unfortunately, the Lady G-Men fell to Waynedale in the hard fought matchup, putting an end to Kali, Zoey, and Gabe’s high school careers. the seniors were adamant about the high spirits in regards to the improvements made as the season progressed, and how they couldn’t be more proud of the team.
Plans Moving Forward
In the spring, May plans to return to the track for her final season. May has been one of the hardest working members of the cross country and track teams over the last couple years, and her hard work is another testament to her great leadership. For summer, May is excited about her graduation party and spending a lot of time with her friends before they embark on their separate journeys later on this year. She also plans to work to save up some money heading into college. In the Fall, May plans to take her talents to Northern Kentucky for college to major in exercise science. For Tasker the spring looks like focusing on school and getting started early at the family owned West Branch Marina for work. Tasker plans to get plenty of work in over the summer while also treasuring those last moments with her friends before it will be difficult to see them frequently. In the fall for Tasker, she is planning on attending Youngstown State or Ohio State to major in education and minor in something business related. Tasker’s interest in developing the younger players on the basketball team falls in line with her desired career path, as she plans to change the lives of many through education. A perfect field for Tasker to put her leadership skills to use. Gabe Groves will be returning to the diamond for her final year of softball. “Softball is really more of my sport, but basketball was a good way to stay in shape.” She is ecstatic for her final year and is confident in the team’s abilities this season. Over the summer, Groves plans to get a job and save up as much money as possible for college. In the fall, she will head to Grand Valley State University in Michigan to further develop her academic career. Groves has a bright future ahead of her.
Kali Tasker, Zoey May, and Gabriel Groves have been great leaders for the basketball team, and also for Garfield. Wherever Kali, Zoey, and Gabe go in life, those places will be lucky to have such hard working individuals such as them.
