Midwest high school basketball stars, Sarah Hoke and Lauren York, sign with STLCC
By: SPENCER GLEASON
Editor in Chief
The Lady Archers basketball program will be graduating half of their roster following this spring semester. And since the Lady Archers’ season ended in March, Head Coach Shelly Ethridge and Assistant Coach Melanie Marcy have been in attack-mode recruiting players for the 2015-16 season. The latest day of signings came on April 13.
Sarah Hoke, a 5-foot-7 point guard from Pleasant Hill High School in western Missouri, and Lauren York, 5-foot-10 post from Blue Valley Southwest High School in Kansas, are the newest members to join the STLCC women’s basketball program.
“It feels good,” York said after signing on the dotted line. “I’m really happy to be a part of the family. I’m just really excited for next year. It’s always been a dream to go play basketball at a college. I’ve always seen the older kids sign, so getting to sign was exciting.”
The duo will be tag teaming on the court for the second time in their young careers. Although they played for different high school teams, both Hoke and York played for the same Amateur Athletic Union club basketball team.
“I’m signing with one of my best friends. That makes it even better,” Hoke said. “We play opposite positions, so I’ll try to dish her the ball, down low. And if it [doesn’t work], she’ll kick it back out [to me]. Then I’ll hit a three. We gel really well together.”
Beyond both Hoke and York’s camaraderie on the court, the “family atmosphere” that current Lady Archers players share with both Ethridge and Marcy is one piece of the puzzle that helped lure the basketball tandem to STLCC.
“They’re like family,” York said. “Compared to other coaches that were recruiting me, I could tell that I’d have more of a connection with them. I could tell that they’d be fun [to play for], but also they get stuff done on the court. I feel like they can make me the best player [that I can be].”
Hoke helped lead her Pleasant Hill Roosters to the second round of the Class 4, District 13 high school tournament. The Roosters finished the season 12-12.
York helped her Blue Valley Southwest Timberwolves to a 17-6 record.
Both Hoke and York said that they are chomping at the bit for the 2015-16 season to begin. They are ready to get back out on the court.
“I’m excited,” Hoke said. “I can’t wait until I’m actually here playing.”
