'When she speaks, people listen:’ Clark thrives as senior leader with Cheboygan girls basketball
CHEBOYGAN – Last summer, Walter Hanson asked his soon-to-be seniors a question.
During a team camp at Lake Superior State University, the Cheboygan girls basketball coach waited but no one answered. So, he decided to put one of them on the spot.
The quiet but friendly Emily Clark.
“I said, ‘Clark, what do you got?’ and her face turns all red and you barely hear from her, and she goes, ‘I don’t care what our record is this year, I just want to have fun and get along with everybody,’” Hanson recalled. “That has been our focus this year and everything else kind of clicked in. She doesn’t say a whole lot, but when she speaks, people listen.
“Emily is kind of the key to it all.”
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Several months later, Clark, Cheboygan’s starting point guard, couldn’t help but smile as she wrapped up the final home game of her career by helping lead the Chiefs to a recent come-from-behind victory over Kalkaska. Prior to the game and after, she was embraced by the teammates who have nothing but love and support for a player who’s overcome more adversity than most.
“It meant a lot to me – I’ve been playing with some of these girls for my whole life,” Clark said following the win. “It meant a lot to get one last win on the Cheboygan court, because (us seniors) won’t have the chance to do it again. When I subbed out for the last time, it kind of hit me, and I was like, ‘OK, this is it.’
“It was good to get a full season in, especially for basketball. I’m glad it was my senior season because it’s the last one and most important.”
Prior to her senior campaign, Clark’s career on the court was a rocky one, as she suffered multiple injuries – with the worst being an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear as a sophomore – but her toughness has been on full display as she’s battled through it all to become a key contributor.
“I was a little hesitant at first because last year, I wasn’t in that position, but I think it's been fun to be a leader out there and teach the younger girls,” Clark said.
Now healthy, Clark’s proven to be one of Cheboygan’s most important players, whether it's coming up with a key defensive stop, knocking down a big shot, or running the show at point guard. Her performances have elevated the Cheboygan team, which doubled its win total from last season and hit double-digit wins after the triumph over Kalkaska.
“She does everything for us now,” Hanson said. “Her role has expanded throughout the year. She’s ball handling for us, she’s stepping up in critical situations. When we have an injury, or the sub lineup isn’t exactly what we want, she steps in and fills the hole for us. She plays some great defense down low. She’s going to be very hard to replace.”
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Hanson loves everything that Clark has brought to his program, but what has he enjoyed the most?
That kind, positive personality that's rubbed off on the entire squad.
“She’s just a really nice kid,” Hanson said. “A coach once told me that great teams don’t happen with great athletes, they happen with great people, and she’s the perfect example of that. A very genuine, nice kid, very polite, works hard, and does what she can for the team.”
As Clark finishes off her high school career on the hardwood, there’s one thing she won’t forget.
That's this Cheboygan team, and the bond it's built from last summer until now.
“The thing I like best about our team is everyone gets along, there’s no drama,” Clark said. “It’s kind of like a family. I just want to thank my teammates and the coaches. It's been a good season.”
Clark and Cheboygan will look to keep their campaign alive when they face Kalkaska in a 7 p.m. MHSAA Division 2 district first-round game at Petoskey on Monday.
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Clark a quiet, effective leader for Cheboygan girls basketball team
