'It just feels like home': Washington junior excited about future with Bradley basketball
WASHINGTON – Claire McDougall has found herself a perfect college home: Bradley University.
The Washington junior gave her verbal commitment to the Braves in October, following an August scholarship offer from Bradley head coach Andrea Gorski. If Friday’s 48-31 girls basketball victory over Mid-Illini Conference victory Dunlap was any indication of what McDougall will bring to Bradley, the rest of the Missouri Valley Conference better be on alert.
McDougall, a 6-foot forward, stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
“She’s really fun to watch,” Washington coach Kimberly Barth said.
An abbreviated spring season saw McDougall average 10.9 points and 9.8 rebounds as a sophomore, while picking up Journal Star all-area and all-Mid-Illini second-team honors. She then parlayed that season into a strong travel basketball campaign with Mid-Pro Academy.
On the AAU circuit, McDougall began to see her game slowly improve.
“I feel like, not just me, but for everyone, it helped us all progress,” she said, “because it was basketball, basketball, basketball, no break.”
Offers began to roll in for McDougall. First, Division II schools came calling, then Bradley extended a scholarship. Loving the coaching staff and the energy the team brought onto the court were big selling points, according to McDougall
But the proximity to Washington couldn’t be beaten.
“I’m a home person,” she said. “I love this community. I love this environment. I just knew. Once they offered me, it just feels like home."
“I’m really excited to bring my game from here to the next level.”
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Bradley will be getting a versatile player in McDougall. From a defensive perspective, she was assigned to Dunlap leading scorer Sophia Remmel.
The junior guard was limited to eight points on 3-for-8 shooting as McDougall shadowed her the entire game.
“I was totally locked in on her,” McDougall said of the sharp-shooting Remmel. “I wasn’t even worrying about anybody else.”
“We’ve been trying to match her up on the other team’s best player if we can,” Barth added. “She’s quick enough to guard on the dribble drive too. We’ve been giving her a lot of defensive assignments that are tough, but she steps up to the plate every time.”
Sure, McDougall can score – her lone miss was a 3-point attempt – but arguably the most valuable aspect of her game is her passing ability. Barth says she has "fantastic court vision." She found Addie Kimler (15 points, five rebounds) for a free-throw line jumper, then dished to her classmate three more times for easy buckets.
In grade school, McDougall was doubled and tripled team, so finding the teammate has become almost second nature to her.
“I’ve always been looking for the open girl,” she said. “That’s kind of my first look. Sometimes I don’t even shoot the ball when I’m wide open. It’s easy for me to dump it.”
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When it does come to shooting, McDougall is very self-aware in needing to hone that skill. She plans to spend lots of time working on it from now until she steps onto the Bradley campus. Plus, changing the mindset of being unselfish almost to a fault.
“If you have a good shot, you got to take it,” she said, “so that’s probably the next step for me is when to shoot it and when to be patient and look for the next girl.”
With all-stater Georgia Duncan (16 points, six rebounds) heading off to McKendree University next fall, McDougall will be relied on more than ever. Not just on the court with her production, but she will need to lead on the court and in the locker room.
It’s a role she’s already started to embrace.
“Claire’s mentality has changed,” Barth said. “She’s stepped up and she’s become a leader. She’s vocal.”
Washington is now 8-1 overall and 3-0 in the Mid-Illini after the Dunlap victory. A home game — and rematch of the Mid-Illini Tournament title game — against Class 3A No. 2 Morton comes on Tuesday.
The Panthers will make their debut at the competitive State Farm Holiday Classic after Christmas, then face Normal U-High and Richwoods as part of the tough nonconference slate.
“We’ve really tried to up our strength of schedule, so we’re playing our best basketball when it counts,” Barth said.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Claire McDougall excited about future with Bradley women's basketball
