It’s right there in those eyes. And it becomes so clear as soon as she steps on the floor.
Chloe Perry doesn’t just play basketball – she lives it. And if you don’t believe that, well, just look in those eyes. They are focused. Intense. And say all you really need to know about Chloe Perry’s passion for the “great game” of basketball.
“I like basketball because it’s a sport that never seems to get old,” she says. “I feel like most sports can be very repetitive at times and get boring, but basketball never gets boring and always keeps you on your feet.”
Perry, 16, is a starting shooting guard for the extremely talented Dexter girls’ basketball team. Only a junior, Perry is among a group of Dreadnaughts led by several talented seniors who came into this season with high expectations and are clearly the team to beat in the tough SEC Red Division.
Perry is pleased with how the team has played heading into the home stretch of the regular season. But there is still work to be done, boxes to tick and goals to accomplish.
“We started off losing our first game to a team we definitely should’ve beat,” she says. “But then as the season went on we kept getting wins and actually beat one of the top five ranked teams in the state, and only lost by six to the third-ranked team in the state (more on that to come).”
The Dreadnaughts are undefeated in league play with recent big wins over Saline (43-39) and Pioneer (41-38).
Perry says she’s played “pretty well” this year. “In most of my games, I’ve scored over 10 points and over a few assists,” she says. “I think I still am going to be able to show more of my talent as the season goes on.”
Perry can score – just ask Lincoln, she netted a season-high 18 points in the win over the Railsplitters. Perry can pass and handle the basketball – she can move over and play point guard if needed. And Perry can play defense – she seems to crank up the intensity even more on the defensive side of the floor, something she has in common with many of her teammates.
Perry says one of the highlights so far this season came in a loss. Dexter fell behind by as many as 18 points to third-ranked Westfield Prep before battling back in the second half. Dexter suffered only its second loss of the season, 65-59.
“One of the highlights this year is when we came back from being down 18 points and tied it up with the No. 3 ranked team in the state,” says Perry. “Although we did end up losing that game, the experience was crazy. It was probably one of the loudest gyms I’ve ever played in. Both benches were going crazy and the parents of both teams were screaming at the top of their lungs. Just the intensity and energy and overall the atmosphere in the gym was insane.”
It also proved to the Dreadnaughts that they can play with anyone in the state.
“As a team this year our biggest goal is to be conference champions and win districts,” says Perry. “To accomplish these goals we have to work together as a team and play 100 percent every game. This will be tough but I definitely think we can do it.”
Chloe is the daughter of Amy and Steve Perry, and it was her “Don’t Stop Believin'” father (Steve Perry – get it?) who believed his daughter would enjoy playing the game he loves.
“My dad played basketball his whole life and even a little in college so he was very interested in me playing,” she says. “He encouraged me to play, and also I remember one of my really good friends when I was young played basketball so it got me to want to play.”
Perry, who also enjoys going to Michigan basketball games with her father, has played AAU basketball almost her entire life.
“I remember my first team was called DSO Sting and that was probably around the time when I was in third grade,” she says. “But before that, I played rec and ed. My whole life I’ve played on many different teams and met so many great people.”
She also played for Michigan Premier, and most recently the Michigan Mystics, based out of Flint.
Perry began her Dexter HS career on the JV as a freshman where she averaged around 15 points per game. She played varsity last year as a sophomore.
“I didn’t start but I would like to say I contributed a lot to the team,” she says “When I went in I played my hardest but we sadly lost in the second round of Districts that year.”
She says one of her strengths is her unselfish play and her ability to get her teammates involved. With her ability to handle the ball along with her size and strength, she’s very good at taking the ball to the basket and either scoring or drawing a foul – or both.
But like with every great player, she is always working on her game.
“I need to work on my shooting,” she says. “I have good shooting games, but other times my shot seems off so I just need to focus on being more consistent.”
Perry, who has a 3.9 GPA and is a member of the National Honor’s Society at DHS, would like to play basketball in college but hasn’t made any decisions yet.
“If I really wanted to play in college, I think I could be doing a better job promoting myself and my game, but since I’m not sure yet, I haven’t really been,” she says. “And since I’m still only a junior I haven’t picked a school. I have some ideas of what I want to study but I don’t have a set one yet, so we will see. All I know is that I want to be involved in basketball someway the rest of my life just because I love being around the sport.”
She also loves being around her teammates.
“Yeah, we are very close,” she says of the Dreadnaughts. “During the season we spend so much time together but we all love it and enjoy every second of it. Before every home game, we go to a teammate’s house and eat dinner which I think definitely brings us closer together.
“All this shows on the court as well, you can see how well we share the ball with each other and trust each other while playing. We all consider each other family for sure.”
With all this talent, focus, commitment and experience on their side, the Dreadnaughts seem ready to take on those high expectations. Just “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
All photos by Terry Jacoby
