Mount Mercy Academy's Carolyn Grandits embraces her role

SOUTH Buffalo - It takes a special kind of person to do what Mount Mercy Academy junior guard Carolyn Grandits does. And Grandits does it without complaining.

In fact, the junior has thrived so far this year doing it.

What Grandits does is she is the first option off the bench for coach John Glose and the Mount Mercy Academy basketball team.

Sure she would like to start. In fact, she started last year on the junior varsity team for Glose when he was the coach.

But, this year she has adapted well to her new position and hasn’t complained one bit about it.

“It was a change for me [early on] just because last year I was a starter,” said Grandits before a recent practice at Mount Mercy Academy. “But, I think coming off the bench [as the sixth man} has definitely made my game better and I have definitely been improving.”

While I am sure she would like to start, Grandits has used her time on the bench in the first quarter to get a feel for the game and to study what the other team is doing on offense and defense.

That kind of preparation has helped Grandits when she is inserted early into contests.

“I think I can prepare myself more mentally,” stated Grandits. “I can watch the game a little more and figure out what I need to do once I get in to the game. I feel more prepared for it, and it definitely has helped my game.”

When she does get in to the game, Grandits has no fear when it comes to driving the lane or taking the outside jumper.

She said she has worked on both aspects of her game over the past couple of years and the hard work has paid off so far this season.

“I have been working on my outside shot,” she said. “I think this year I have been working more on my drive {to the basket]. I think I have been improving from the past couple of years.”

She now has the confidence to take her game to other teams and she feels she can score whenever she has the ball.

“I just take what the defense gives me,” explained Grandits. “I am ready to shoot at all times. And I am ready to drive [to the basket] when I need to.”

That kind of confidence has led her to even start a few games recently as Glose has been changing up the lineup after a 0-4 start in league play.

The changes have worked as the Magic are on a three-game winning streak, as of press time. After a 0-4 start in the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association, the Magic now sees themselves at 9-6 overall and 3-4 in league play.

Grandits says the winning streak has instilled confidence in the rest of her teammates that they can do big things when the playoffs take place Saturday, Feb. 23.

“It has built our confidence [up],” she said. “And, I think it just makes us want to win more each game. We are improving as a team as each game comes. We are really working together.”