Ask someone in their 40s or 50s or even older who played high school sports to name two or three of their closest friends today. Oftentimes, among that special group of people, will be a former high school teammate. Sports not only builds character but creates lifelong friendships and lasting bonds.
This year’s Dexter girls’ basketball program is creating those special bonds – along with a ton of victories and perhaps a league and district title in the near future. Decades from now they won’t remember the wins and losses, but they will remember and cherish the friendships.
Just ask Maddi Valentine.
“The atmosphere we have is unlike any team I have been a part of,” says the standout senior shooting guard. “We’re truly like a family. I spend seven days a week with these girls, so we’re bound to grow a tight bond. Between practices, games, bus rides, refereeing, team dinners, there is a lot of time to get to know each other, which really benefits us on the court as well as in our personal lives.
“It’s good to know that I have nine girls supporting me at all times, and know they always have my back.”
Before we get to the strong season Valentine is having, let’s look closer at this Dexter team. And team is a subject Valentine enjoys talking about because this truly is a team in every sense of the word.
And so far, so (very) good for the Dreadnaughts.
“This season has gone really well and I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished so far this season and I hope to keep going strong,” says Valentine. “I have played with four of the seniors for a very long time, so it’s like playing with your best friends, which really shows on the court.
“When we play, we have fun with each other, and I think that’s what has allowed us to have the most success.”
The goals for this team are no secret. They also are no easy task, but this team seems to thrive off of challenges.
Dexter has circled SEC Red Division and District titles as the top two goals.
“I think the keys to accomplishing the goals are to play selfless and play for the team,” says Valentine. “We do a really good job of sharing the ball and that’s what has allowed us to be as good as we are.”
And Dexter is playing at a very high level as the regular season begins to dribble down to an end – with big games against Saline and Chelsea looming.
“I believe the reason we are playing so well is because we have great chemistry,” Valentine says. “We know how each of us play and where everyone is on the court. We share the ball and are always looking to make the extra pass and to get the best shot possible each possession.”
Valentine has been doing her part. She is averaging around 10 points and 5 rebounds a game, along with a couple of assists. And like all of her Dexter teammates, she is relentless on the defensive end.
“I think I’ve had a pretty good season,” she says. “I definitely think that I can play stronger and have better games heading into postseason.”
Valentine says she first became interested in basketball while watching her older siblings play.
“I would always hop in their practices and play with them and from there I just fell in love with playing,” she says. “I like basketball because it’s not an easy sport, it’s not something that everyone can do. I also like that it’s fast paced, you’re never just waiting for something to happen, you’re constantly doing something at all times.”
Valentine started her Dexter career on JV but midway through that freshmen year was called up to varsity. “My role wasn’t to score or to be the best player, it was to support my teammates and work as hard as I could to earn playing time,” she says.
She became a starter as a sophomore and was averaging around 10 points a game when she tore her ACL and was finished for the year.
“Coming back from a tough injury, my junior year I knew I wasn’t going to be as quick as I was and I wasn’t going to be able to play like I used to,” she said. “So, I had to focus on being a team player and looking to give more opportunities to my teammates. Towards the end of my junior year, I was able to start scoring more and playing better defense.”
She couldn’t wait to tip things off her senior year.
“Going into my senior season I was excited because I knew I would be more confident than I was the previous season,” she says.
Winning that tough game with Saline earlier in the year to give them first place in the Red Division – up to this point – was a big highlight for Dexter.
“That was a huge game for us,” she says. “We came into the game as underdogs, and we had to prove to others that we could hang with our conference. There was some skepticism from outsiders before the season about whether or not we’d be able to keep up with the other talented teams in the SEC Red, but we knew we could. And winning the Saline game proved that we were a force that’d be hard to stop.”
Maddi, 17, is the daughter of Rae and Wesley Valentine. She has a 3.9 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society.
And what’s next after high school?
“Right now, I am undecided on whether or not to continue my basketball career in college,” she says. “I have not picked a school yet, however I am looking to major in biology in hopes to get into an optometry program after under grad.”
Right now, she has both eyes focused on Dexter basketball.
Profile: Chloe Perry is focused on helping her team conquer some high expectations – We Love Dexter
