Avery Havens’ first taste of post-season ball had much in common with her first few days of school at Ozark.
Havens enrolled at Ozark for her freshman year last fall after being home-schooled through the eighth grade.
“It was a little chaotic and I was nervous,” Havens said, recalling her start at Ozark and sharing the hallways with more than 1,300 students. “It’s crowded. I had to be confident in myself, make friends and get to where I needed to be.”
Havens got to where she needed to be Wednesday, namely the 3-point line. Once beyond the arc, she netted a pair of 3-point goals in the Lady Tigers’ 44-42 Class 6 District 5 first-round upset of Glendale.
Havens hit what proved to be a game-winning 3 to give Ozark a 43-40 lead with 1:22 to play.
“At the moment, I didn't really think about (the importance),” she said of her decisive 3. “I trust my shot. It's something I think I do really well, more than other areas. So, I thought, 'I'm open, I'll shoot it and it will help the team.’”
Senior forward Sydney Hampton marveled at Havens’ courage to attempt a shot as a freshman with a District game on the line.
"I probably wouldn't have taken that shot (as a freshman),” Hampton said. “To be honest, I wouldn't have. We trust Avery 100 percent. She's a great shooter and is going to be a great player. We're really proud of her.”
Coach Brandon Clift noted how receptive the Lady Tigers were to passing the ball to Havens.
“There's no hesitation from her teammates that if she's open, they're going to find her because they know what she's capable of doing,” Clift said.
Havens is actually no stranger to Ozark or to the local hardwood scene. She has lived in Ozark the past seven years, while being home-schooled through Gloria Deo Academy in Springfield.
Over the summer, she has played AAU ball with the Missouri Phenom.
Gloria Deo Academy gained affiliation with MSHSAA this school year in boys basketball, boys and girls cross country and boys golf. With GDA not having a girls basketball team, Havens played for another home-school outfit, Lighthouse Christian.
Obviously, Havens also had to transition to playing school ball and a whole new set of teammates. She spent much of this season on Ozark’s jayvee, before earning a spot in Clift’s regular rotation at the end of regular-season play.
“It's been different, a big change for sure. But it's been really good,” Havens said. “Practicing five days a week has really helped me. There's a lot of good people (at Ozark), I really like it. My teammates have been incredibly sweet to me. All of them are so nice and encouraging. They’ve helped me adjust and the coaches have also been really nice.”
Clift is optimistic concerning Havens; future.
“She played a lot of jayvee and was a consistent scorer,” he said. “The big adjustment for her was the physicality and defense. She's continued to put in the work and seen a little more (varsity) playing time. She's a great kid for us to have and is going to have a great career.”
