Going the distance: B-R’s Strandberg’s XC experience providing boost on the court

BRIDGEWATER— Cross country is a sport that requires a keen balance of speed, strength and endurance for an athlete to be successful.

As it turns out, those skills translate very well from the course to the basketball court.

While Camden Strandberg has made a name for herself as a leading local runner, being named both the Taunton Daily Gazette Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year and Southeast Conference MVP the past two years, the Bridgewater-Raynham sophomore has had a breakout season on the court for the Trojans this winter. The six-foot forward has led her team in scoring the past six games, dropping 17 points while also recording six rebounds and two assists in a 61-43 win over New Bedford Tuesday.

While Strandberg showed signs of her potential as a role player last season, she has stepped her game up both offensively and defensively, slotting in well to help fill the gap left by the transfer of 2023 Taunton Daily Gazette Girls Basketball Player of the Year Natalia Hall-Rosa to The Rivers School.

"She came into the preseason and was so improved," Trojans coach Cheryl Seavey said. "(Last year) with such a talented roster, she didn’t get as much time as she would’ve, so she really was determined to perform and she has improved in all facets of her game, from defending one of (New Bedford's) top threats to rebounding to having the offensive output that she has."

In particular, Seavey praised Strandberg's game awareness and well-rounded abilities, but one factor stands out stands out the most: her endurance.

"She doesn’t get tired," Seavey said. "She’s a cross country star, so her fitness level allows me to have her out there (longer) because she doesn’t fatigue."

Strandberg isn't the only cross country runner to star on the court for B-R, as she's joined by fellow All-Scholastic Brenna Woodbury. Already a key piece of the Trojans' success last season, the junior guard is averaging roughly 10 points, an SEC-best five assists and 3.5 steals per game.

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"Brenna and I are really good friends, so it’s been nice to have her around all the time," Strandberg said. "We mesh together really nicely and it’s been fun to be out on the court."

Along with senior guard Reese Bartlett, the trio possess a level of endurance that has proven to be a difference-maker down the stretch for the Trojans.

"If you look at our statistics, Brenna, Reese and Cam play for about 98-99% of our games, so to have all three of them come in incredibly fit, it’s nice to have because you know deep into the game that they’re not going to be fatigued," Seavey said. "They’re going to be able to continue to perform while others may need a break (so) I can always count on the three of them to be on the floor."

Likewise, with so many top players for opposing defenses to hone in on, Seavey says it has allowed others to take on larger roles in the team such as Kate Lambert, Olivia Roy and Libby Cronin.

As for Strandberg, she says working and learning with those older players has definitely improved her game.

"Being a sophomore and having all of the upperclassmen to be able to set a good impression for me has really helped," Strandberg said.

With the win Tuesday, the Trojans (10-3, 4-1 SEC) qualified for the postseason for the 10th straight season. Now hopes of an eighth straight league title rely on a win over undefeated Dartmouth, who handed B-R its first ever SEC loss and first league loss since 2016 on Jan. 21.

Seavey said as always, her team has things they need to work on, and will do so, but with her team’s work ethic and teamwork, she’s excited to see what’s in store.

“We’ll keep striving and keep working hard and see where this journey takes us,” Seavey said. “They’re such amazing young ladies that it’s just a privilege to be part of this process with them.”

Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: B-R’s Strandberg’s speed, endurance leading to breakout season