Point guard Greaves holds key
CHERRY TWP — Alazia Greaves built a name for herself with shutdown defense.
Need a potent scorer kept in check? Put Greaves on her.
Offense from Greaves, a 5-foot-8 junior guard for the Moniteau girls basketball team, was always considered a bonus.
That is no longer true.
Greaves has turned into a star on both ends of the court this season for the Warriors under first-year coach Dee Arblaster.
“It’s a big thing for her,” Arblaster said. “We have other kids who can play good defense which allows her to not have to work so hard on the defensive end and we can use her more on the offensive end.”
Her new focus has paid dividends for Moniteau.
Greaves is averaging 14.8 points per game this season after barely averaging seven points per game last year.
“It was something I focused on,” Greaves said. “Last year was a lot of defensive stuff and I wasn’t driving to the hoop. I just stayed on the outside and shot 3-pointers. I wanted to drive to the hoop more. I still have my defensive stuff, but driving to the hoop adds a whole lot this year.”
Greaves also made the move to point guard, which has given her more opportunities to drive the lane or drive and kick this year.
Greaves said she worked extensively in the offseason on her ball-handling skills to make the move to the point.
“That was a big change for me because I never really ran the point before,” Greaves said. “So, it was kind of big. I like it a lot, though. It was kind of rough at first, but I really got into it.”
Greaves also likes being aggressive this season.
“It is fun,” Greaves said. “Driving to the hoop, getting fouled, making the foul shots — I get to see an aspect of everything.”
Arblaster said Greaves has taken all the changes in stride.
“Being a point guard is different for her,” Arblaster said. “But she’s been good. She likes to press and push the ball and that’s what we need from her.”
