PRAIRIE GROVE — Most good basketball teams have a glue that holds everything together.
For the Prairie Grove girls basketball team, that’s Courtney Galloway.
While other Lady Tigers might enjoy a bigger role and be expected to deliver more points, Galloway isn’t afraid to do the little things to help the team.
“I see myself as that kind of player,” Galloway said. “Not everyone can do it, but they need me to be the one who plays defense all the time and I can do that.”
Galloway averages 5.8 points and 1.6 rebounds for Prairie Grove (22-7), which enters the Class 4A North Regional Tournament as the No. 2 seed from the 4A-1 Conference. But more than individual numbers, it’s Galloway’s ability to slow down opponents which makes her so valuable.
PROFILE
Courtney Galloway
SCHOOL: Prairie Grove
CLASS: Senior
HEIGHT: 5-foot-6
NOTABLE: Galloway averages 5.8 points and 1.6 rebounds for the Lady Tigers this season, after posting a 5.6 scoring average as a junior when Prairie Grove won the Class 4A state championship. ... Known more for defense among her team, Galloway is second on the team in total 3-point field goals (25) and second in free-throw percentage (.769).
“She’s been in our program all the way through and she has evolved into one of our top 3-point shooters and top defenders,” Prairie Grove coach Kevin Froud said. “Courtney usually is asked to guard the top player or top scoring guard on the other team and she’s definitely a big asset on the defensive end.”
A 5-foot-6 senior guard, Galloway knows plenty about what it takes to win, playing a big role in Prairie Grove’s run to the Class 4A state championship last season. And judging by her emotions following a 47-32 loss in last week’s 4A-1 District Tournament finals against Shiloh Christian, she has a strong desire to make sure the Lady Tigers don’t fall short of a repeat performance in this year’s postseason.
“I still see the hunger in everyone’s eyes, it’s still there,” Galloway said. “We lost several starters from last year’s team, but this team wants to win just as bad. We just need to work hard in practice and keep working.”
Froud knows getting Galloway to work extra hard these next couple of weeks won’t be a problem. And as the Lady Tigers embark on another postseason run, the Prairie Grove coach also knows how important his senior leader will be in making sure this season ends with a bang.
“She’s been in those battles and she has the mental toughness. She knows what it takes to win and I know what I can expect out of her,” Froud said. “Courtney might not show much emotion in the game. But she gets down on herself because her goals are so high, and as far as competing and working, you can always count on her.”