The development of basketball players isn’t always linear.
Some players develop at a different pace than others. When it starts to come together, like it has for junior guard Emily Linkevich, it’s a source of pride to Bartlett coach Tanner Gardon.
“This summer, she did some things and we were like, ‘Whoa,'” Gardon said. “She opened some eyes.
“It’s rewarding for me, but it has to be even better for the player. I think when you’re coming into your own and changing roles and all of a sudden it starts to click, you’re like, ‘Man, I belong.’ That’s a really cool feeling, and that’s what she’s starting to feel.”
Linkevich continued feeling that feeling Thursday night, leading the Hawks with 14 points in a 47-17 Upstate Eight Conference victory at East Aurora.
Megan Kron scored 13 points for Bartlett (4-6, 2-2), while Courtny Bridgeforth added 11. Yaritza Servin paced East Aurora (1-5, 0-4) with seven points.
Linkevich knew her role would increase after Bartlett graduated eight seniors. As Gardon alluded to, she now knows that she belongs.
“It gives me a lot of confidence because shot after shot is going in,” Linkevich said. “I made four 3-pointers (Thursday), which is really good for me.
“My role has gotten bigger. I’m scoring more — my shooting has been a lot better. I’m communicating well with my teammates.”
Linkevich’s 3-pointer in the second quarter pushed Bartlett’s lead to 26-6. A 12-0 run in the third quarter, which included another 3-pointer from Linkevich, made the lead 41-13.
The Hawks led by as many as 32 points.
Gardon said Linkevich has increased her shooting percentage, which is leading to even more confidence.
“She’s a really good basketball player,” Gardon said. “She’s starting to make her shots. I think at the beginning she was struggling to do that.
“Shooters shoot, and when you get hot, that’s when things happen.”
Linkevich said shooting is one of her strong points, but she feels she brings even more to the team.
“I think shooting is definitely one of my strengths but also defense,” Linkevich said. “I’ve always been good at defense, even since I was younger.”
East Aurora, meanwhile, is trying to replace its top players from last season.
Leading scorer Mia Moore graduated and leading rebounder Anastasia Bellamy moved to Missouri. The result is a young team finding its way at the varsity level.
“Bartlett is a good team,” East Aurora coach Lee Clayborn said. “They’re building and up and coming. I think the problem is we’re young. We have to learn how to handle the pressure. Losing Mia is a lot.
“We’re in rebuilding mode. They’re going to get better.”
Bartlett is already halfway to last season’s win total as the Hawks try to get the program back to its glory days. Gardon, happy with the mix they have this season, is optimistic about the future.
“I was really excited for this year,” Gardon said. “We kind of got off to a slow start. It was just battling through getting to know the speed of varsity basketball.
“I’ve been telling the girls, we’re just trying to stack wins now. We have two in a row, so we just have to keep working.”
Linkevich is also excited about where the team is headed.
“We’re bonding,” Linkevich said. “We don’t really argue. We’re all together as one.
“I think we can definitely get over 10 wins this year, maybe even 15. I think we can win conference this year or next year, and I definitely think a regional is in our future in the next few years.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
