While the dimensions on Port Byron's basketball court have remained unchanged, the gymnasium floor has widened considerably for senior point-guard Mallory Jakaub this season.
Jakaub had a breakout 2004-05 season for the Panthers, earning first-team all-league honors while averaging 10.8 points per game.
Despite her ability to be one of the best players on the floor in any given game, Jakaub's determination to constantly improve forced her to change portions of her play.
“My court vision was actually one of the weaker points of my game,” Jakaub said. “When I would bring the ball up (the floor) it was like looking straight down a tunnel.”
As a point guard, Jakaub was a tremendous scorer but she struggled to get her teammates involved and was turnover prone. Port Byron head coach Mindy Gilbert offered some suggestions for Jakaub when she came looking for advice.
“After last season I asked her what I should do to improve,” Jakaub said. “She told me to try and open up my vision, make sure I see everybody. It was something she would talk about last year but I didn't start to focus on it until the summer.”
Jakaub participated in a Cayuga Community College summer basketball league and worked extensively on improving her court vision.
Gilbert told her senior standout to focus on not only seeing the entire floor, but keeping her head up while dribbling and not telegraphing passes.
Jakaub made immediate improvement in the summer league games but admits that a majority of her development relied on getting her nerves in check.
“I've gotten less nervous with the basketball,” she said. “I'm much more comfortable, I want the ball in my hands. (Last year) I would get nervous and try to give the ball away real fast, even if I had only one girl on me. I used to be scared to dribble.”
So far this season, Jakaub has shown improvement in almost every statistical category.
She is sixth in Section III in points-per-game (19.0) and leads the Panthers in steals (4.0 per game) and free throws (5.8 per game).
“She's extremely well-rounded,” Gilbert said. “She can shoot the three as well as penetrate the defense. She keeps the defenses guessing all the time.”
While her points are up, so is her ability to get her teammates involved. Jakaub has emerged as a true point guard as she's increased her assists per game (6.0) and has decreased her turnovers. She has also been thrust into a leadership position, which has been well received by her teammates.
“She's our playmaker, she makes things happen,” Gilbert said. “Her ability to score, that's what we look to her for but we also look to her for leadership. She's very supportive of all her teammates. The other players look up to her. She's more of a leader by example. She will become a vocal but I think she leads best by her hard work ethic and her perseverance to succeed.”
Jakaub's numbers are up and her point-guard's vision is nearly mastered, all while being a target of opposing defenses. Although Jakaub was strongly guarded at the end of last season, she says the heightened court sense she developed over the summer allows her to attack double-teams more confidently.
“I know I've just got to keep the ball between me and the defender,” Jakaub said. “I know I'm going to be double-teamed. At the end of last season, as soon as a got the ball I got swarmed. Now, I'm used to it and have become more comfortable. I try not to let it get me down, I try to let it get me psyched.”
Despite her ability to be one of the best players on the floor in any given game, Jakaub's determination to constantly improve forced her to change portions of her play.
“My court vision was actually one of the weaker points of my game,” Jakaub said. “When I would bring the ball up (the floor) it was like looking straight down a tunnel.”
As a point guard, Jakaub was a tremendous scorer but she struggled to get her teammates involved and was turnover prone. Port Byron head coach Mindy Gilbert offered some suggestions for Jakaub when she came looking for advice.
“After last season I asked her what I should do to improve,” Jakaub said. “She told me to try and open up my vision, make sure I see everybody. It was something she would talk about last year but I didn't start to focus on it until the summer.”
Jakaub participated in a Cayuga Community College summer basketball league and worked extensively on improving her court vision.
Gilbert told her senior standout to focus on not only seeing the entire floor, but keeping her head up while dribbling and not telegraphing passes.
Jakaub made immediate improvement in the summer league games but admits that a majority of her development relied on getting her nerves in check.
“I've gotten less nervous with the basketball,” she said. “I'm much more comfortable, I want the ball in my hands. (Last year) I would get nervous and try to give the ball away real fast, even if I had only one girl on me. I used to be scared to dribble.”
So far this season, Jakaub has shown improvement in almost every statistical category.
She is sixth in Section III in points-per-game (19.0) and leads the Panthers in steals (4.0 per game) and free throws (5.8 per game).
“She's extremely well-rounded,” Gilbert said. “She can shoot the three as well as penetrate the defense. She keeps the defenses guessing all the time.”
While her points are up, so is her ability to get her teammates involved. Jakaub has emerged as a true point guard as she's increased her assists per game (6.0) and has decreased her turnovers. She has also been thrust into a leadership position, which has been well received by her teammates.
“She's our playmaker, she makes things happen,” Gilbert said. “Her ability to score, that's what we look to her for but we also look to her for leadership. She's very supportive of all her teammates. The other players look up to her. She's more of a leader by example. She will become a vocal but I think she leads best by her hard work ethic and her perseverance to succeed.”
Jakaub's numbers are up and her point-guard's vision is nearly mastered, all while being a target of opposing defenses. Although Jakaub was strongly guarded at the end of last season, she says the heightened court sense she developed over the summer allows her to attack double-teams more confidently.
“I know I've just got to keep the ball between me and the defender,” Jakaub said. “I know I'm going to be double-teamed. At the end of last season, as soon as a got the ball I got swarmed. Now, I'm used to it and have become more comfortable. I try not to let it get me down, I try to let it get me psyched.”
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