The right 'feel' works for Campbell
SLIPPERY ROCK — Sedona Campbell just has a “feel.”
She can't describe it, but when the Slippery Rock High senior forward is in the post, she has a sixth sense about what to do next.
“I kind of just feel where the defense is coming from and when they're going to double-team me,” Campbell said. “I don't know how. It just sort of happens.”
So does her scoring, which is happening quite a lot these days for the 5-1 Rockets.
No matter how much opponents try to stop Campbell, she has still found a way to put the basketball through the hoop.
Campbell is averaging 18.2 points per game this season and has been remarkably consistent in doing so. She hasn't been held to single-digits yet this season and has two 20-point games to boot.
With starting point guard Jenna Whitmer out with an ankle injury until mid-January, Slippery Rock coach Amber Osborn has been thankful for Campbell.
“She has come through for us a lot,” Osborn said. “It's nice to have that consistency and she has a good core of players around her, which also helps.”
Campbell doesn't pay much attention to her scoring average. She simply puts her head down and does her job, she said.
With that, though, has come pressure and teams trying to take her away.
Campbell has succeeded in making adjustments.
“It's not a real secret that she likes to go to her left hand,” Osborn said. “Girard played her very well and tried to take that away from her, but we made some adjustments.”
Campbell, who leads the team with 7.2 rebounds per game and in shooting at 57 percent, has also been playing away from the basket this season for the first time in her career.
Almost strictly a post player in high school and in AAU basketball, Campbell has been asked to face the basket at times for the Rockets.
It's still a work in progress, she said.
“It's definitely different,” Campbell said. “I've been playing in the post since I was in the fifth grade and now I'm facing the basket and I have to read the defense visually instead of by feel.”
Campbell has worked in practice on her outside shot and the new feel she has to form away from the paint.
“I'm getting more comfortable, but it's going to take time,” Campbell said. “It's exciting, though, because if I can shoot from the outside, they'll have to come out and guard me and that'll open things up for me and everyone else.”
Slippery Rock has been rolling since a loss in the season-opener.
And the Rockets have done it with a short bench until Whitmer returns.
“Obviously, when Jenna got hurt it was very sad,” Campbell said. “But everyone really stepped up and everyone had to take on a bigger role. I'm very proud of what we've done.”
