NEW MARKET — Southmont senior Emma Ward will continue her academic and basketball career at Hanover College next fall.
Ward will join her sister, Lilly, who is already a member of the women’s basketball program.
“It means the world, because I loved playing with her in high school, and I was so sad on her senior night,” Ward said. “Because I thought that would be the last chance I’d get to play with her, but now I’m blessed to be able to play a whole other four years with her.”
The motivation to play at the next level for Ward is driven by the possibility to once again share the court with her sister.
“It’s all Lilly,” Emma said. “She’s my idol, and I look up to her in everything she does, and as soon as she started playing I knew that I really wanted to start playing with her again. The first game playing without her was so hard, because I just leaned on her so much. She’s my best friend, and it sucked not having her there.”
Ward averaged 2.7 points per game during her senior season, helping the Mounties to a 13-win campaign. She felt like she became more confident this season, and is prepared to work hard over the summer to get ready for the collegiate level.
“I feel like I was more confident in my play, and I’m trying to focus on that this summer,” she said. “I’ll definitely have to be consistent in the gym over the summer. I’ll have a workout and I’ll need to stick to that and be disciplined. I’ll need to work on ball control and work on my shot.”
