Nation's Leading Scorer Also a Cheerleader?

By Dave Krider

MaxPreps.com

Though she’s only a sophomore, Woodland’s Courtney Strain already holds six state records and – barring injury – should wind up as the highest-scoring girls basketball player in Alabama history.

The Alabama records are:

- 40.6 scoring average, which led the nation this year.

- 1,261 points scored in a season.

- 869 field goals attempted in a season.

- 447 field goals made in a season.

- 25 field goals made in a game.

- 407 free throws attempted in a season.

The 5-foot-8 forward poured in over 50 points four times this year, with a high of 57. She also averaged an outstanding 13.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.5 blocked shots and 2.3 steals in 31 games.

The state record for career points is 4,155, while the single-game standard is 63 points.

Though Woodland, a private school, has only 197 students in grades 10-12, Strain is a big-time college prospect. Ron Ingram, communications director for the Alabama High School Athletic Association, calls her “one of the best young players we’ve had. She’s a great ball handler and gets most of her points in the paint. She comes from a great family.”

“The No. 1 thing is that she shoots a true jump shot,” according to her father and coach, Larry Strain. “She elevates over people with a mid-range jumper. She can come off a dribble and get her own shot. Very seldom does she get her shot blocked. Obviously, she has a lot of God-given talent. She is pretty much a natural, but she has worked really hard on her shot and ball handling drills.”

However, Courtney’s debut in an organized basketball game wasn’t exactly a bed of roses. She was a tender four years old and was forced by her father to take part in a church league pick-up game.

“Mama told me I had a cute little-girls outfit,” she related. “I ran up and down the court crying. I guess I was scared – probably intimidated by the boys. I think there was one other girl. I looked at it (the film) last week.”

Soon, of course, she realized there was no crying in basketball and she began going to camps as a third grader. Then she made some major decisions as a sixth grader. “I said, ‘Hey, I really want to do this,’ ’’ she recalled. “I really loved the sport.”

Strain already was shooting a true jump shot in sixth grade. She gives the credit to her father and her older brother, Trae, who plays defensive back for Birmingham Southern. “We would shoot 100s of shots,” she noted. “We shoot identical jump shots. I still haven’t beaten him one-on-one. I’ve always said that my idol and who I want to be like is my brother Trae. He has the best work ethic and attitude. He’s always been there for me. He is a great person in my life.”

Even as a sixth grader, Strain was a fierce competitor. Playing with several young female cousins in a church league game, she got tired of boys on the other team blocking her smaller cousins’ shots and then making a big deal out of it.

“One boy blocked my cousin’s shot and jumped up and down (in celebration),” she said. “I ran him down (on what appeared to be an open fast-break lay-up) from behind and just slapped the ball into the wall. I think he was a little embarrassed.”

Because of her tireless work ethic, Strain was able to start on the Woodland varsity as a seventh grader. “It was pretty tough,” she admitted. “The pace of the game was really different. I had been used to playing church league and little league. Then I got more confidence and got used to the pace.”

Early in the season, she averaged seven or eight points, but she ended up with a 19.5 scoring average and 8.2 rebounds per game. Her signature game came late in the year against Ranburne. She was fouled with the score tied and only three seconds left. She showed composure far beyond her age by acing both free throws for the victory.

As an eighth grader, Strain improved her averages considerably to 26.7 points and 10.7 rebounds while also averaging 3.2 assists and 1.7 blocks. She also scored a career-high 43 points in the sub regional. She also faced trick defenses for the first time – something she has had to live with ever since.

Strain’s freshman year really established her as a superstar. She averaged a state-record 38.3 points with a high game of 57. She also averaged 14.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.2 blocks and 2.3 steals.

“It was exciting, but I give God all the glory,” she said of her phenomenal freshman year.

The summer before her sophomore year, she averaged 17 points to help the Alabama Twisters place fifth in the 15-and-under National AAU Tournament at Disney World.

Still, even bigger things were on the horizon. Though still only a sophomore, she not only broke her own state scoring record, but led the entire nation with an amazing 40.6 scoring average. “I never thought I would do that,” she quickly admitted. “I definitely have to give my teammates a lot of credit.”

The Bobcat star’s prolific scoring feats are particularly surprising because “two or three players always are on her,” Coach Strain points out. “They use a box-and-one, triangle-and-two, etc. She’s seen every defense she can see.”

Because of the constant defensive pressure, Courtney admits, “I do get very frustrated some times. They knock me on the floor. Everybody picks on me because my knees stay black and blue. I just go to my open teammates. I like to get an assist just as much as a point. I’d rather us win than me score.”

But Courtney is much more than a scorer. He father notes, “She has to rebound for us, because she is the tallest (5-8) on the team and she also has to defend the post. Once she gets a rebound, she can out-run a lot of people to the other end of the floor. She has got good, quick feet. She plays two guard for us now, but could play the point.”

She has two areas she much improve before she becomes a complete player: defense and three-point shooting. Her defense is not strong by design because the Bobcats can’t allow her to ride the bench in foul trouble. She is a great mid-range shooter, but is working on developing an equally-good three-point shot.

In addition, Strain has been a standout volleyball player since seventh grade, starting at strong-side hitter. “You’ll probably laugh,” she adds, “but I’m also a cheerleader (for boys basketball and football). I’ve always loved gymnastics and tumbling and my mom (Robin) is the cheerleader sponsor.”

In the classroom, she carries a perfect 4.0 GPA, with history being her favorite subject. She belongs to the Beta Club, Truth Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Asked about her college choice, she revealed, “I guess I’d have to say Auburn right now”

Her immediate goal, though, is to win a Class 2A state championship. This year’s 22-9 squad had no seniors, so next year could be a banner one. Adding to the talent pool is Courtney’s younger sister, Leah, who will be a seventh grader.

Just as Trae has been a great role model for Courtney, she is following a similar path with Leah. Being a positive role model “makes me feel great,” Courtney says. “It’s the greatest feeling in the world.”