Orsby Hoping to Leave a Mark Before Heading to the Ivy League . By : Brad Davis
Talk to anyone in the state about girls ’ basketball , and the name Alana Orsby is sure to come up . The six foot senior guard has put together an impressive resume since playing up in high school her freshman year . The two time All-Conference selection averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds as a standout at Jonesboro High School , but now looks to make her mark as a Valley View Lady Blazer . As a sophomore , Orsby helped lead the Lady Hurricane to the 5A State Finals , and states that her goal is to do the same for her new team .
“ My team and I have been putting in work during the off season , and I know we can take home a ring for this basketball season ,” Orsby said . “ As far as individual goals , I plan to work on keeping a steady tempo on offense , learning when to change my pace off the dribble , and also adapting to the four spot on the court and become a small forward when I have a mismatch with a small guard on the post .” Orsby loves to showcase her versatility on both ends of the floor . “ With me being a six foot guard , I am very versatile on the offensive side . I can go downhill , I can stop and pop , I can come off screens , etc . On defense I am very long so I disrupt passing lanes , I can rebound , and I can beat my defenders to their spot . Being able to just play and have fun makes the game easier , which is why my teammate make game day so enjoyable .”
Orsby says her transition across town has been a smooth one . “ The transition to Valley View has been a breeze ,” she explained . “ I have a great relationship with all my teammates , and I have truly built a bond with all of them . Going into the season with this team will be great . I have teammates who truly want to get better , and a coach who truly wants the best for all of us . Having a coach like Coach Angie Ellis makes the sport of basketball fun and easy . Her confidence in all of us is through the roof because she truly believes that we are capable of anything when we step on the court .”
As a senior , Orsby has already found a leadership role on the team . “ My leadership skills going into my senior year are going to be different than they were last year ,” she explained . “ This year I have to make sure my team and I play calm , and most importantly I have to make sure I keep a steady tempo for my team and not be rushed by a defense . Some of the underclassmen struggle with moving on from a mistake , so I plan to continue to uplift them and let them know that they can bounce back from that ”
Orsby is committed to Brown University of the Ivy League , which proves that she not only gets it done on the court , but also in the classroom . The Lady Blazer says she knew on her first visit that is where she wanted to go . “ My first official visit to my future home , Brown University , was amazing ,” she remembered . “ While we did walk around campus and the arena , the overall picture to me was being flown out by a school and my parents not having to pay for anything . It was a blessing knowing that my hard work was finally paying off .” And pay off it has . Orsby already has plans on when she gets back to campus . “ When I get there , I plan to make an impact on the team since I am a tall and long guard who is also versatile . On the academic side of college , I plan to go into the medical field as my childhood dream has always been to become a neurosurgeon .”
While those may seem like lofty goals , that is nothing new for Alana Orsby . She has set big goals all her life and put in the work to reach them . She credits her parents as the biggest inspiration in her life . “ My parents have the greatest influence in my life as they truly want the best for me ,” she said . “ They both sacrificed a lot over the past few years as recruitment picked up for me . My parents have spent a lot of money on me as they see my talent and what I really hold when I ’ m on and off the court . My goal now is to just make them proud and know that what they sacrificed wasn ’ t for nothing !” She described family time off the floor as being one of her favorite things away from the court . “ Family time is really important to me . I enjoy being around them especially when I know I ’ m going to laugh and have a good time . I used to go to the gym with my dad in the afternoons but long practices usually get the best of my energy . So now I usually go to the gym at 5am-6am before school , but since the season is near I toned it down .”
Whether it is on the basketball court or in the classroom , Alana Orsby has proven she can get it done . High standards and expectations are the norm for the hoop standout , and have led to her senior season being one she will always remember . A new team , a new role , and a new challenge are not things that scare Orsby away . Instead , she will lace those sneakers up tight , go right to work , and do the things necessary to reach her goals this season . After that , it is off to the Ivy League where the sky ' s the limit on the court and in life for Alana Orsby .