Having two older brothers and an older sister who played sports in high school, it was natural for Ally Lorenzo to be an athlete.

She has participated in basketball, volleyball, softball and track at Brownstown Central.

“I’ll keep memories forever and friends I’ve made forever,” Lorenzo said. “Sports, also, and the big wins we’ve had during basketball and the other sports seasons.”

Lorenzo has helped the Braves win sectional and regional crowns and Mid-Southern Conference titles in basketball, volleyball and track.

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This winter Lorenzo is starting

her fourth season on the basketball team and said she likes running the fast break.

“Typically we’re a fast-paced team, so we try to push the ball every time up and down the floor,” she said. “We look for a ‘rim runner’ coming down the court. So as we’re coming down the floor, we look for a post player to drop the ball into for a nice, easy layup.”

The Braves’ offense works differently against various types of defenses.

“Against man defenses, we can run our plays better,” Lorenzo said. “I think we do better, typically, against man. We can usually get it into our post, or we can look for an outside shot. Against zone, we just have to make sure that we keep moving the offense. We can’t just stand against a zone because it is easier to stand when they’re playing a zone against us. We have to make sure we look for our open shots and drive and try to look for the open spots in a zone.”

Lorenzo said the key to breaking a press is to take your time and make good passes.

“If we don’t panic on the press, and we pass the ball around and don’t just try to beat it with a dribble, we’ll be fine”

The senior likes to press when the Braves are on defense.

“When we press, I’m usually on the top,” Lorenzo said. “Whenever we play man, we drop back.”

With the Braves’ high-tempo offense, Lorenzo feels communication is key.

“Communication is very important,” Lorenzo said. “Coach (Karla) Rieckers stresses a lot about talking on defense; because if we’re in a zone, we have to talk about where the cutter’s coming, and on offense we have to talk.

“If we’re open, we have to call for the ball and hit the open person for an open shot.”

Lorenzo said ball handling will be key to the Braves’ success this winter.

“We look to keep our turnovers rather low,” she said. “We have a goal for so many (points) a game, and we try and stay under that. “We stress during practices trying to limit our turnovers because that will carry over to the games.”

This spring will be Lorenzo’s second season playing softball. Last year she played second base and in the outfield.

The Braves are going to have to execute the fundamentals to post a winning record, according to Lorenzo.

“We have to have good defense, good communication, and we have to be able to hit the ball,” she said. “So we need a lot of hitting practice.”

Lorenzo emphasized the need for total preparation.

“The mental part is very important,” she said. “It’s just as important as physical during all types of sports. Free throws is mostly mental. It’s just the same motion over and over again as your shooting, and that’s the same if you’re shooting a ‘3’ or a layup. it’s just all mental aspects of the game.”

After practice, Lorenzo puts in extra time.

“If you stay after practice for about 20 minutes and you just get in a rhythm shooting the same shot over and over, you’re more than likely going to hit it during the game,” she said.

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Name: Ally Lorenzo

Family: Parents, Jeff and Susan Lorenzo; siblings, Matthew, Jordan, Abby

Sports: Basketball, 4 years; volleyball, 3 years; track, 2 years; softball, 2 years

Athletic honors: Basketball — Mid-Southern Conference champions 2012-13; volleyball — sectional, regional champions 2012, 2013; track — conference champions 2011, 2012, regional qualifier 2012.

Organizations: National Honor Society, Student Council, Booster Club, Lettermen’s Club

Home games: “I really like the home games a lot because we have a very good fan base, and we usually have a bunch of people in the student section. I really like the band because we run out to the school song, and that shows our school spirit really well.”

Favorite away gym: Corydon

Home softball games: “I like the home games over there (at the elementary school). We have to get ready here after school and go there, so that was kind of a struggle. We have a good fan base.”

Attending BCHS: “I really like it. I really enjoy Brownstown. I’m very glad I chose it coming in as a freshman. I’ve made a lot of new friends. It’s probably the best four years of my life here.”

Favorite food: Mashed potatoes

Favorite TV show: “Friends”

Favorite musician: Taylor Swift

Favorite movie: “Toy Story”

Favorite athlete: Peyton Manning

Favorite team: Indianapolis Colts

Favorite book: Nicholas Sparks books

Favorite quote: “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”

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