'We're Like Family'

BY ED WRIGHT
March 15, 2010, 11:15 p.m.

  On Tuesday night at 7 p.m., Canton's 23-1 girls basketball team will square off against 20-4 Midland Dow in a Class A quarterfinal encounter.

  When asked to fill out a brief questionnaire for PlymouthCantonSports.com, the Chiefs politely obliged. Each sheet that was collected by coach Brian Samulski had a few common words that reflect what a close-knit unit Canton has become: best friends, family, togetherness and fun, to name a few.

  Following are brief profiles that give some insight into each player and how they've bonded to become one of the elite teams in the state of Michigan.

JESSE LARNER

NUMBER: 3

YEAR IN SCHOOL: Sophomore

HEIGHT: 5-6

POSITION: Guard

SPORTS LETTERED IN: Basketball, softball

ROLE MODELS: My parents, Debbie and Chuck Larner

FAVORITE NBA OR WNBA PLAYER: Dwyane Wade

BEST PART OF YOUR GAME: Defense

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS TEAM: "I like everything about this team. We are all so close. We love being together, on and off the court. It's awesome playing a sport you love with your best friends."

ROBYN MACK

NUMBER: 4

YEAR IN SCHOOL: Sophomore

HEIGHT: 5-5

POSITION: Guard

SPORTS LETTERED IN: Soccer and basketball

ROLE MODEL: My parents

FAVORITE NBA OR WNBA PLAYER: Dwyane Wade

BEST PART OF YOUR GAME: Penetrate and kick, finding the open person.

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS TEAM: "The friends that I have on the team."

LINDSEY WINTERS

NUMBER: 10

YEAR IN SCHOOL: Senior

HEIGHT: 5-8

POSITION: Guard

SPORTS LETTERED IN: Basketball and soccer

ROLE MODEL: My mom, Julie Winters

FAVORITE NBA OR WNBA PLAYER: Ray Allen

BEST PART OF YOUR GAME: My ability to shoot the ball and contribute on defense.

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS TEAM: "I love every single girl on this team. We get along very well and share many laughs and unforgettable moments with one another. We are family!"

ALYSSA COTTRELL

NUMBER: 12

YEAR IN SCHOOL: Senior

HEIGHT: 5-7

POSITION: Guard

SPORTS LETTERED IN: Basketball and soccer

ROLE MODEL: My parents, Greg and Donna Cottrell

FAVORITE NBA OR WNBA PLAYER: Dwight Howard

BEST PART OF YOUR GAME: My defense. My goal for every game it to prevent the person I am marking to score any points. I also think I am able to contribute offensively by setting up my teammates to score with the use of screens.

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS TEAM: I love absolutely everything about being a part of this team. All the girls get along and we are really close friends. We can all have so much fun together. Something else that makes this team so special is that I can depend on them to compete in each game because we all share a drive for winning."

MELANIE PICKERT

NUMBER: 15

YEAR IN SCHOOL: Junior

HEIGHT: 5-8

POSITION: Guard

SPORTS LETTERED IN: Soccer and basketball

ROLE MODEL: My mom and dad. My mom taught me sooo much, especially when I was home-schooled.

FAVORITE NBA OR WNBA PLAYER: Dwyane Wade

BEST PART OF YOUR GAME: My defense. I disrupt the other team's offense. Driving and passing, too.

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS TEAM: "Everyone gets along and we are always on the same page as far as being really aggressive...sometimes too aggressive (ha, ha). If you're having a bad day, just have a practice with us."

KELLY LARIMORE

NUMBER: 20

YEAR IN SCHOOL: Senior

HEIGHT: 5-9

POSITION: Guard

SPORTS LETTERED IN: Soccer and basketball

ROLE MODEL: My dad

BEST PART OF YOUR GAME: Being a team player.

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS TEAM: "That I get to see my best friends almost every day."

YUKI KROLICKI

NUMBER: 13

YEAR IN SCHOOL: Senior

HEIGHT: 5-4

POSITION: Guard

SPORTS LETTERED IN: Cross country, track and field, basketball

ROLE MODEL: My mom

FAVORITE NBA OR WNBA PLAYER: Dwyane Wade

BEST PART OF YOUR GAME: Defense

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS TEAM: "Everything! This team is very close because we've had the same people for two years. These are the funniest people I've met and there's not a day when I haven't been laughing with them. My teammates have become my best friends and I think our teamwork comes from there. We've worked hard, but we've laughed harder."

CAROLANN SEXAUER

NUMBER: 21

YEAR IN SCHOOL: Junior

HEIGHT: 5-7

POSITION: Guard/forward

SPORTS LETTERED IN: Softball and basketball

ROLE MODEL: My parents

FAVORITE NBA OR WNBA PLAYER: Candace Parker

BEST PART OF YOUR GAME: Shooting

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS TEAM: "We love being with each other and hanging out. We always have each other's back. It's never a one-man game. We all work together."

KARI SCHMITT

NUMBER: 25

YEAR IN SCHOOL: Junior

HEIGHT: 5-11

POSITION: Forward/center

SPORTS LETTERED IN: Basketball and swimming

ROLE MODEL: My sister, Allison

FAVORITE NBA OR WNBA PLAYER: Ben Wallace

BEST PART OF YOUR GAME: Rebounding and scoring inside.

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS TEAM: "I like going to the gym everyday and playing basketball with my best friends."

KAYLA BRIDGES

NUMBER: 33

YEAR IN SCHOOL: Junior

HEIGHT: 5-10

POSITION: Forward

SPORTS LETTERED IN: Basketball

ROLE MODEL: My mother, Linda, and my grandmother, Mema. They are both very strong women in my life.

FAVORITE NBA OR WNBA PLAYER: Candace Parker and Dwayne Wade

BEST PART OF YOUR GAME: Rebounding, post moves and scoring inside

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS TEAM: The cohesiveness of everyone associated with the team. The fact that all of my teammates are my best friends and my sisters, and we have created a bond that will go beyond Canton basketball."

SARA SCHMITT

NUMBER: 40

YEAR IN SCHOOL: Junior

HEIGHT: 5-10

POSITION: Forward/center

SPORTS LETTERED IN: Swimming and basketball

ROLE MODEL: My parents

FAVORITE NBA OR WNBA PLAYER: Chauncey Billups

BEST PART OF YOUR GAME: Defense and driving to the basket.

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS TEAM: "We are all best friends and get along very well. We always have fun when we are together. Most of the time we end up laughing."