EGELSTON TOWNSHIP – We noticed some hints from Anna Lundquist and the Oakridge girls basketball team last season.
There was one game, in early January 2022, when Lundquist, only a sophomore at the time, broke through with 18 points, including two three-pointers, and 10 rebounds in a win over North Muskegon.
That was only the Eagles’ second win in seven games at the time, and they went on to finish the season with an 8-14 record, but Oakridge coach Morgan Wahr predicted that Lundquist and her teammates would have a lot of great games in the future.
That prediction has come true this season.
[1]Lundquist, a 6-foot-2 post player who can also score from the outside, has been piling up the stats.
Her latest big game came last Friday when she totaled 16 points, 10 rebounds and four steals in a conference victory over Whitehall.
On Feb. 3 she had 18 points, 14 rebounds, six steals and two blocks in a win over Western Michigan Christian.
On Feb. 2 she had 18 points, 17 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in a win over Fremont.
She is currently averaging around 16.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, making her one of the elite offensive players in the area.
[2]Not coincidently, her team is faring much better this season. The Eagles are currently 15-4 overall and 8-3 in conference play heading into next Tuesday’s game at Ravenna.
The winning had made all the effort and improvement more than worth it for Lundquist.
“We’re really coming together as a team and it’s a really big deal for us,” she said. “We’ve been wanting to do this for a while now and it’s finally coming together.”
“We knew as a team we had to pick it up. We lost some seniors from last year and we had to pick up our game and come together to have a strong season.”
Oakridge is in second place in the West Michigan Conference Lakes Division, two games behind first-place Ludington, and may not be able to catch the Orioles with only two regular season games left this season.
[3]What’s impressive about the Eagles, however, is how well they bounce back. They lost a 39-36 heartbreaker to Ludington back on Dec. 12, then went on to win the next six games.
They also lost their rematch with Ludington, 42-40, on Jan. 22, but then went on to win the next five games.
That type of competitiveness will come in handy in two weeks, when Oakridge competes in a very challenging Division 2 district tournament at Allendale.
“We learn from the tough losses each time,” Lundquist said. “We see what we could do differently, and we try to improve each time after a loss by getting on a winning streak.”
“I’m really impressed and proud of the girls,” Wahr added about her team’s bounce-back ability. “It can be tough losing a really close game. But they haven’t lost their stamina and they don’t think about it too long. They’re always ready to adjust and it makes me proud to be their coach. Their fire is awesome and they’re always trying to improve for the next game.”
Lundquist has obviously played a big role in the team’s success, and it’s largely because she is much more than your standard score-under-the-hoop post player. She has also developed her outside shooting game, so she’s dangerous for opponents from anywhere on the court.
“It’s really fun to see the improvement,” Lundquist said. “My jumper has improved a lot this season, so if there is a longer and stronger girl, I can pop out. But when they’re shorter, I have my post moves I can use on them. It’s fun to see each game what I can do.”
[4]“It definitely makes my life easier,” Coach Wahr said about Lundquist’s versatility. “Coach-wise, it just allows for more opportunities. It shows the girls what can happen if you work. Her ability to not be stuck in the paint is pretty unique. It helps make the team adaptable.”
Lundquist has also developed as a leader for the varsity, another factor that has helped the Eagles turn their fortunes around.
“She’s really serious and straight to the point,” Wahr said. “She’s able to command a presence as a quiet leader. She’ll lead by example, and you can tell in games when she gets fired up, she’ll get vocal.”
Lundquist takes that role seriously.
“I feel like you always have to be there for your teammates,” she said. “Cheering them on is a big part of that. But you always have to be ready to take over if needed.” 
[5]