Girls Basketball Co-Captain Ava Davey ’25’s leadership is the foundation of the team’s positive energy. In addition to being an outstanding player on the court, Davey is a role model who sets strong examples for her teammates. Her passion for the team is evident through her pivotal role in fostering team morale.
As a tri-varsity athlete, Davey has had to make significant sacrifices to balance the sport along with Soccer in the Fall and Softball in the Spring. She shared her gratitude for staying committed to basketball because of the friendships she’s built.
“I started basketball really early, in kindergarten. I’ve played in travel and club leagues. I do play three sports, so it’s been tough to stick with club basketball through high school and middle school, but I’m really glad I did. I’ve made so many close relationships through basketball, which is something I love,” said Davey.
Co-Captain Emerson Buckley ’25 described Davey as charismatic and outgoing. Buckley attributes the strong team bond to Davey, noting her inspirational speeches and overall energy as a significant influence in boosting morale and strengthening team relationships.
“Ava really embodies the spirit of being a Captain and being selfless for our team during her pregame and halftime speeches. She truly fires the team up, and I’m grateful to Co-Captain with someone like that. Those are the moments when people look to her for energy and inspiration, whether it’s off the court before a game or on the court. That’s where she really shines as a captain, and a lot of people look up to her for that,” said Buckley.
Eva Jackson ’28, a new player on the team, praises the way the Co-Captains work as a unit. Jackson highlights Davey along with her Co-Captains’ consistent efforts to greet her warmly, take the time to get to know her, and participate in team activities outside of practice.
“[The] team Captains take responsibility and initiative by keeping the team close together, planning team meals, and building strong one-on-one connections with everyone on the team… In the locker room, they ask me how my day is, make sure I understand all the plays, and include me in conversations. They make a concerted effort to include me and ensure I feel welcome on the team,” said Jackson.
Davey highlights the importance of communication and setting a high standard. She also noted that building team culture is incredibly important, creating an environment to push one another.
“Leading by example is so crucial, especially on a smaller team. This ties into communication, especially with younger players. Emerson, Sophie [Dandawa ’25], and I make sure we’re always communicating with everyone on the team. I remember when I was younger, the older players who made an effort to get to know me and help me when I didn’t understand something, it meant the world to me. The little things matter. Our goal is to build a team culture where everyone feels comfortable pushing one another while also celebrating the small victories,” said Davey.
Davey shared an overall goal of the season to make the playoffs, which is dependent on the team focusing on more minor aspects of its game, such as defense and transitions.
“I have a lot of goals, but I think it’s important to take things one game at a time. Obviously, our goal is to make the playoffs and have a winning record, but none of that can happen unless we focus on the small things. For example, we’re working really hard on practicing good team defense and playing strong help defense. We do a ton of work on getting open in our motion offense, and our transition game looks great because everyone works hard to get up the court quickly and look for open baskets,” says Davey.
Davey hopes to continue playing basketball in some capacity at the college level. 2
“I’m planning to play soccer in college, but basketball might be an option for me in the winter. I’d be super excited to continue playing.”
