To accomplish these goals , Juice has a good understanding on where she has to grow as a player . “ I want us to be more unionized as a team ,” she said . “ For myself I ’ m becoming more of a leader , and getting myself ready for college level . A leader to me is someone that people should want to follow on and off the court . Someone that got their stuff together and is willing to help their team anyway possible . The way I will show I ’ m a leader is by putting my team before me , making sure I ’ m setting a good example for others to follow , and also building them up when things aren ' t a cakewalk .”
Playing for three coaches in three years may have prepared Williams and the Lady Raiders for such times . The Lady Raider senior played for Jason Smith as a sophomore , Tim Hawkins as a junior , and now , after Hawkins retirement , Kevin Frisbee . Juice feels , while this has provided some challenges , it has also strengthened the team in other ways . “ It showed that we ’ re tough ,” she said . “ It ’ s hard having to bond and trust in someone you don ’ t know anything about . It gave our team more character .” She agrees that she has taken different things from each of her coaches to help her succeed .
Hawkins saw Williams as a leader last season . “ Juice was an emotional leader on our team as a junior last season ,” stated Hawkins . “ She brought a positive vibe daily and is one of the easiest athletes to coach in my career .”
Coach Frisbee doesn ’ t hesitate to recognize Williams as a leader . “ I ’ ve never had to tell Juice to go hard , and I ’ ve never worried about what her top priority is on the floor ,” he said . She ’ s not the “ loud leader ” type , but she leads by example in the way she approaches the game . Everyone loves Juice . She ’ s so fun to be around and she ’ s genuinely just a great young woman . She ’ s had an awesome career to this point , and I ’ m excited to see how she finishes it out .”
He should be . Coach Frisbee has a squad around Williams that will be one of the favorites in the 5A East and have a legitimate shot to get to Hot Springs and cut down the nets . With Mckenzie Williams bringing the “ juice ” every day , being a force inside , and showing her tremendous leadership abilities , she and the Lady Raiders should finish out with a chance to cut down some nets .
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