The spark behind the Lady Eagles’ fire
A look into the Lady Eagles secret weapon: Deter Burgin
Coach Adam Lazar shows his dismay after a questionable call from the official. After a close game with the West Clermont Wolves, the WHHS Lady Eagles won 49-41.
The WHHS Girls Basketball squad is coming in confident as ever after last year’s historic season, going 25-2 in the regular season, the best record in school history. They advanced five rounds into the Sweet Sixteen in the postseason until being beaten by an elite Lakota West team. This devastating loss gave the team more incentive to improve.
Deter Burgin (left), ‘20, and Miyah Brooks (right), ‘20, watch as their teammate shoots a free throw. The team took on conference rival West Clermont.
“It’s just motivation at this point that this whole season we gotta work on getting thirty points better. We all want to come out on top this year,” SENIOR forward Zuri Williams said.
In past seasons the Eagles have been a rather young team, but are now loaded with ten experienced upperclassmen and three returning starters. The team has many talented players, some even looking to further their basketball careers at the collegiate level.
But without one significant player on their roster, they would have trouble piecing it together. “Deter Burgin is the spark our team needs to be successful,” Head Coach Adam Lazar said.
Guard Darian “Deter” Burgin, ‘20, started playing basketball when she was five years old, due to her parents “forcing” her to be active. However, she didn’t find the passion for the game until she began her WHHS career in seventh grade.
“People started to recognize me as a hard worker and good basketball player around then and it felt good to be an important part of a team finally. So, I started really getting into it and I’ve loved the game ever since,” Burgin said.
Burgin’s WHHS varsity career began her freshman year when Coach Lazar took note of her tenacious defending. As a sophomore, she averaged 2.5 steals per game, really becoming an x-factor for the Eagles. It’s her positive energy and fire that inspires the team to ignite a competitive edge on the court.
Deter Burgin, ‘20, drives down the court against West Clermont looking to gain an early lead. As the starting point guard, she played a very important role in their victory over the Wolves.
“Deter is everything to our team. She is hard-working, caring and fearless. She is also willing to do anything for the good of the team,” SENIOR center Kennedi Myles said.
Burgin is the type of player that will dive after loose balls and fight until the whistle blows. Burgin credits older players for her incredible mentality.
“Emma Mertes and Regan Anderson were amazing role models for me, taking in their attitude and high intensity really made me into the person I am today on and off the court,” Burgin said.
Burgin has the same goal as the rest of her team: reaching the state finals and winning. Chemistry and leadership are the foundation of the Lady Eagles. The will to win combined with talent and a fostering coach is the recipe for a special team.
“We can be the best team out there when Deter is motivating us. When she brings her spark to the rest of the team, everybody feeds off it. It’s something I’ve never seen before. Her energy gives us fight and when it’s completely present, I don’t believe there’s a team in the world that can beat us,” Lazar said.
The team next tips off at home on Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in a conference game against Milford. Grab your friends and come see Deter and the rest of the Lady Eagles in action.
LEFT: SENIOR Kennedi Myles wins possession of the ball for the Eagles to start the game. Additionally, she scored her 1000th career point for WHHS late in the game.
Coach Adam Lazar calls a time out to stop the momentum of their opponents, and talks to his players about tactics. It took everything they had to clinch the victory away from home.
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