Laney Dobbs, South Effingham Mustangs looking forward to their shot at postseason play
GUYTON — It’s been a big year for South Effingham’s 5-foot-3 basketball shooting star Laney Dobbs.
And Dobbs and the Mustangs are looking to add to their much-improved season in their Region 2-6A play-in game Thursday.
“The way the coaching staff has elevated everyone’s game, I think we have a great chance of doing well at region, better than last year,” Dobbs said. “This year, everything has improved.”
A win in the play-in game would send SEHS to the region final four which starts on Feb. 14 and assure a slot in the GHSA Class 6A state tournament – a modest accomplishment for a team that won just seven games last season.
With three games left in the regular season, the guard-oriented Mustangs, led by Dobbs, Kay’mar Griffin and Elena Hairston, have won nine times.
And with her team-leading 11.6-point scoring average, Dobbs has been a center of attention, really a 3-point specialist who demands attention.
“Laney is a natural leader, very coachable, and she’s going to do everything to make herself better,” SEHS coach Alexus Parker said. “She prides herself in growth.”
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If only she could grow a little more, Dobbs says.
“Being short, I sneak around a little,” she said. “I take my height for what it is, but I wish I was taller.”
Dobbs may not be able to dominate on the inside like her favorite player, LeBron James, so she heads to the 3-point circle – where she’s made 49 of the team’s 67 3-pointers this season.
Dobbs had six threes and a career-high 24 points against New Hampstead on Jan. 28. She had five against defensive-minded Beach.
“I’ve always been attracted to shooting, not really the point guard position,” Dobbs said. “Dribbling hasn’t always been my strong suit, so I’m just going to shoot. My shooting has been more crisp and more shots are falling this year. I’m more confident. That’s the mental game.”
A year ago, Dobbs struggled, shooting 21% from the floor, 30% from the free-throw line, and scored just 4.2 points a game.
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The arrival of Parker, an all-conference performer at Prairie View A&M, has helped instill confidence.
“You know when (Parker) puts on her sneakers, we’re going to scrimmage and there’s going to be trash talking all over the court,” Dobbs said. “(She’ll say), 'If I get one more easy basket, you’re all going to run.' So everyone is like, 'I got coach, I got coach.' We know we’re being pushed to be better.”
Parker, who made Dobbs a captain, said she’s seen a difference in Dobbs’ focus.
“On New Year’s Eve, we wrote down goals for 2022 and Laney’s first goal was to get a scholarship offer,” Parker said. “She didn’t see herself playing basketball after high school. I tell her teams can always use a shooter.”
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Against Bradwell Institute, trailing by three late in the game, the Mustangs needed that shooter and Parker called timeout to draw up a play to get Dobbs open.
And she nailed the three to tie the game.
“This year, it’s been consistent,” Dobbs said. “We’ve been close in so many games (six losses by three points or less), but we’ve kept a togetherness. It’s like a family. I’ve been with these girls since middle school and I think I have amazing chemistry with all of them.”
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Laney Dobbs, South Effingham looking forward to shot at playoffs
