 SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTO BY AL STILLEY Greenwood Christian Academy sophomore Izzy Reed shares the basketball with mother Olivia Oxley Reed, who is a girls basketball assistant coach at the school. |  Izzy Reed |
By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer
Greenwood Christian Academy volunteer coach Olivia Oxley Reed finds herself in the enviable position of helping daughter Izzy Reed attempt to exceed her basketball scoring mark.
Mom held the all-time scoring record of 1,100 points at Greenwood High School for several years until 2016 Indiana All-Star Holly Hoopingarner, a junior standout at IUPUI, smashed it with 1,614 points. An All-Johnson County player, Olivia still stands as Greenwood’s all-time rebounder with 745 and is No. 3 with 256 steals and No. 5 with 227 assists.
“The expectations are kind of high, especially with my mom’s accomplishments,” said Izzy, a 5-10 guard. “I am using her success as a goal – to be better than her. I use that as my motivation.”
Through 32 games, including 11 this season, Izzy has 476 points and 334 rebounds for a double-double average of 14.9 points and 10. 9 rebounds. And she’s only halfway through her sophomore year. She also is on target to become the second female player at the school to score more than 1,000 career points, hopefully surpassing Alyssa Havens (2006-10).
“If I give 100 percent, I know I’ll be giving it my best,” Izzy said. “My mom and I talk about it – her 1,100 points – although it was at a different school. I definitely want to score more points than she did.” The Cougars’ goal is to win their first sectional championship, a foreboding challenge for a young team with no seniors. Four standout seniors graduated.
Only Izzy and junior Alexis Mead returned this season after playing quality minutes for seventh-year coach Alan Weems.
“They (seniors) didn’t look at playing the seniority rule last year,” the then-freshman said. “We were the five starters on the court. I knew as a freshman that I couldn’t make stupid mistakes; so, it was up to me to gain their trust. I had to step up my maturity level.”
Mom stepped in this year to help coach the Cougars. She played on the Southern Stars national AAU championship team with future WNBA star Katie Douglas and Center Grove standout Jenny Martin.
Olivia graduated from IUPUI but did not play basketball. She returned home and served as an assistant girls basketball and volleyball coach at Greenwood. She and husband Craig have three girls and two boys, with Izzy being the oldest sibling.
Izzy is a third-generation basketball player; her grandfather, Jim Oxley, played at Greenwood High. Mom and daughter also enjoy the emphasis upon religion and spirituality at GCA, particularly as it applies to the Cougars, especially at games against other teams.
“On the court, for example, we ask every team to pray with us after the game and that shows a lot of character,” Izzy said. “After a win or a loss we’ll pray with the other team. It is a blessing for me because I have teammates who believe the same way I do. I know they are lifting me up and holding me accountable, not only on the court, but my religion and my relationship with God.”
Expectations are high this season. “This team has set lofty goals; these girls are excited about the opportunities in front of them,” Izzy’s mom said. “Obviously, this team is best when everyone is working together and doing everything they can do to win – playing defense, all the little things.”
Winners of seven of their last eight games through Dec. 7, the Cougars are 8-5. Mead is averaging 14.8 points and 3.8 assists, and sophomore Savannah Frye is pitching in with 12.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.3 steals
Senior staff writer
Greenwood Christian Academy volunteer coach Olivia Oxley Reed finds herself in the enviable position of helping daughter Izzy Reed attempt to exceed her basketball scoring mark.
Mom held the all-time scoring record of 1,100 points at Greenwood High School for several years until 2016 Indiana All-Star Holly Hoopingarner, a junior standout at IUPUI, smashed it with 1,614 points. An All-Johnson County player, Olivia still stands as Greenwood’s all-time rebounder with 745 and is No. 3 with 256 steals and No. 5 with 227 assists.
“The expectations are kind of high, especially with my mom’s accomplishments,” said Izzy, a 5-10 guard. “I am using her success as a goal – to be better than her. I use that as my motivation.”
Through 32 games, including 11 this season, Izzy has 476 points and 334 rebounds for a double-double average of 14.9 points and 10. 9 rebounds. And she’s only halfway through her sophomore year. She also is on target to become the second female player at the school to score more than 1,000 career points, hopefully surpassing Alyssa Havens (2006-10).
“If I give 100 percent, I know I’ll be giving it my best,” Izzy said. “My mom and I talk about it – her 1,100 points – although it was at a different school. I definitely want to score more points than she did.” The Cougars’ goal is to win their first sectional championship, a foreboding challenge for a young team with no seniors. Four standout seniors graduated.
Only Izzy and junior Alexis Mead returned this season after playing quality minutes for seventh-year coach Alan Weems.
“They (seniors) didn’t look at playing the seniority rule last year,” the then-freshman said. “We were the five starters on the court. I knew as a freshman that I couldn’t make stupid mistakes; so, it was up to me to gain their trust. I had to step up my maturity level.”
Mom stepped in this year to help coach the Cougars. She played on the Southern Stars national AAU championship team with future WNBA star Katie Douglas and Center Grove standout Jenny Martin.
Olivia graduated from IUPUI but did not play basketball. She returned home and served as an assistant girls basketball and volleyball coach at Greenwood. She and husband Craig have three girls and two boys, with Izzy being the oldest sibling.
Izzy is a third-generation basketball player; her grandfather, Jim Oxley, played at Greenwood High. Mom and daughter also enjoy the emphasis upon religion and spirituality at GCA, particularly as it applies to the Cougars, especially at games against other teams.
“On the court, for example, we ask every team to pray with us after the game and that shows a lot of character,” Izzy said. “After a win or a loss we’ll pray with the other team. It is a blessing for me because I have teammates who believe the same way I do. I know they are lifting me up and holding me accountable, not only on the court, but my religion and my relationship with God.”
Expectations are high this season. “This team has set lofty goals; these girls are excited about the opportunities in front of them,” Izzy’s mom said. “Obviously, this team is best when everyone is working together and doing everything they can do to win – playing defense, all the little things.”
Winners of seven of their last eight games through Dec. 7, the Cougars are 8-5. Mead is averaging 14.8 points and 3.8 assists, and sophomore Savannah Frye is pitching in with 12.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.3 steals
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