CUTTINO ON THE BASKETBALL COURT
Conceding that basketball was her first love, Cuttino said, "I love blocking shots. You have to work together more as a team, become more like a real family. She doesn't play AAU basketball, so "It makes me work harder in practice. I still love basketball and want to get better." Facing double- and triple-teaming in the post as a junior, she noted, "I had to learn to be more of an assist person - even when I was two feet from the rim."
Cuttino helped Ben Davis forge a 13-12 record last year.
Photo by Heston Quan
Basketball coach Joe Lentz said "She's much more confident and stronger
in the post. She runs the floor well. She has long arms, good timing and
a good vertical jump. She's a leader by example and a really neat kid.
She could certainly be a huge factor for us with her senior leadership,
scoring and blocking."
Here are some of her basketball accomplishments:
* She's one of 18 players to make the Junior All-Stars, giving her a head start toward a berth on the prestigious Indiana All-Star team next year. She admitted, "I was super surprised. It's such an honor."
* She became a starter in the middle of her sophomore year at one of the state's premier schools for girls basketball, finishing with averages of 6.3 points and 7.1 rebounds.
* As a junior she raised her averages to 8.5 points and 9.4 rebounds while blocking 45 shots and shooting 48 percent from the field.
* She ranks 10th in career rebounds with 435 and is tied for No. 4 in career blocks with 75.
