TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) - The Florida High girls basketball team is talented, but young. One starter is in middle school, which makes the Seminoles senior leadership that much more important.
"I love being in this role because I know that it's something that I've been looking up to other people for so long," said senior Sarah McCrackin of taking a leadership role for her younger teammates. "It's a great opportunity knowing that I can be in this position for them."
McCrackin is a veteran leader for the Seminoles, and being so close to winning a State Championship a season ago has fueled her even more in her final season.
"I think that's really the main thing sparking us this season," she smiled. "Having that taste of Lakeland is really pivotal for us to get back to that point, but of course have a different outcome. We want to win, we want to win it all."
"She's a role model for everyone," added head coach Darryl Marshall. "When she speaks, everyone on this team listens. That's very important for the younger ladies to see."
What they see? A near double-double per game, 11 points, nine rebounds, and in the classroom? She has a 4.0 GPA.
"She's a hard worker on and off the court," said Marshall. "She can show up to practice and be our hardest worker, then right after that she's going straight to the house and doing essays and whatever she has to do."
"I'm not going to say it's easy, it is a little tough at times, especially taking more rigorous courses," she laughed. "It's definitely something I've learned to balance through high school, even through middle school. It makes my life a lot easier having that balance."
Having that balance, and hopefully some piece of mind when she closes out this season strong.
"We've all played together at least two years, most of us for three and four years," she said of the cohesiveness of this team. "I think it's just a great momentum we have going and hopefully we'll be all the way to the Championship and winning."
All the way to a Championship, with McCrackin, helping to lead the way.
