ROGERS — Developing a new point guard hasn’t been as difficult as anticipated for Rogers High girls basketball coach Preston Early.
Profile
Cassandra Trexler
School: Rogers High
Class: Junior
Height: 5-6
Notable: A move-in from Springdale that has taken over the Lady Mounties point guard position. ... Was a teammate of Rogers senior Taylor Strickland in the sixth and seventh grades. ... Scored 12 points in Tuesday’s win against Siloam Springs.
Graduation hit the Lady Mounties hard, and one of Early’s top priorities after last season was finding a player to the run the offense. Or more specifically, help get the basketball to three-year starter and Missouri-Kansas City signee Taylor Strickland.
Enter Cassandra Trexler.
Trexler moved from Springdale to Rogers last spring, and the junior quickly established herself as the starting point guard. Playing basketball in the sixth and seventh grade with Strickland was an added bonus.
Despite missing three games with a concussion, Trexler has been effective in running the offense while also becoming an inside-out scoring threat. She scored 12 points in the Lady Mounties’ 64-54 win against Siloam Springs on Tuesday.
“The thing that I like about Cassandra and the thing that excites me about her is you can see the growth and the maturity that has happened,” Early said. “She understands what her role is, and she is always thinking a play ahead. She is a floor general for us.”
Trexler said she knew she had to step up and be a leader for the Lady Mounties despite being new to the team.
“Coming to a new school has been a great experience,” Trexler said. “They were all really welcoming, and I have a great coach. I feel like I need to be a leader and keep my composure in tough situations.”
That was evident against Siloam Springs. Rogers entered Tuesday’s game with a three-game losing streak, and the Lady Mounties were struggling early.
But Trexler took a pass after an offensive rebound and hit a long 3-pointer that started a 10-0 run that set the tempo for the rest of the game.
“I’m always focused when I get an opportunity like that,” Trexler said. “It was a big shot and it got us going.”
Trexler was at least three feet behind the 3-point line, but Early was glad she took the shot.
“That is what she has to be good at,” Early said. “That shot broke the ice for us. We also saw a couple of times where she read screens beautifully and attacked a seam for baskets.”
Trexler and Strickland were teammates for two years on a traveling team that was coached by Trexler’s father, Mike. Trexler said being familiar with Strickland has been a plus.
“We played competitive basketball together,” Trexler said. “Taylor has grown so much, and I have been impressed with the effort she has put in. Taylor has become a great player.”
And Trexler is starting to make a name for herself, too.