Changing of a guard

Last season was another good one for Ogdensburg Free Academy senior point guard Megan Morrison.

But the way it ended was not to her liking.

After winning a Section 10 championship for four straight years, top-seeded OFA was upset by Potsdam in last year's Class B title game.

"It was definitely hard," said Morrison. "It's kind of a humbling thing. They deserved it. They played well. I think it was a really big motivating force, especially for us to work hard over the summer. Obviously it wasn't what we wanted."

Morrison averaged 19 points with six rebounds and five assists for OFA last year and is closing in on 1,000 points for her career.

"She worked very hard this summer and played AAU basketball with coach (Pat) Bassett of South Jefferson," said OFA coach Mark Henry. "She put in the time over the summer and went to at least two camps. She's an incredibly smart player and she plays the game the right way. She's very unselfish, but she does want to take the big shot."

Morrison showed her style of play when asked what her individual goals were for the season.

"I think the main focus is what the team should be going after," Morrison said. "There are things I'd like us to get this year."

That attitude is why her position as point guard seems to be the right fit for her. She can have the most impact on a game and find ways to get each teammate involved in the offense.

"There are so many ways you can contribute to the game," Morrison said. "Sometimes making a great play doesn't have to be off a shot, but hitting a pass and that momentum starts the team going.

"It did take me a little while (to learn point guard). I'd mostly played shooting guard. But I knew if I wanted to play in college I'd have to play point guard, and that's what our team needed."

Said Henry, "She was a captain last year and a captain again this year. She'll have a major role in leadership. She's vocal, but leads more by example. She doesn't take any drills off and works extremely hard all the time. She's our best defender and usually gets the toughest assignment, anywhere from a point guard to a post player."

Morrison is not one of those players who plays defense because she's been told too.

"I actually like defense," Morrison said. "It's so much fun to get a stop on someone. It changes the momentum of the game sometimes."

Morrison also excels in the classroom. With a grade point average of 98, she hopes to study physical therapy in college.

"I had an injury in basketball (sophomore year) and went to physical therapy and I really liked it," Morrison said. "I wanted to stay around sports, too, so that really interested me."

SECTION 10 OUTLOOK

There are two fewer teams in the Northern Athletic Conference this season as Gouverneur and Clifton-Fine have decided not to field a varsity squad. The defending champions are: Massena (Class A), Potsdam (Class B), Madrid-Waddington (Class C) and Hammond (Class D).

Malone was the regular-season champion in the Central Division a year ago with a 10-0 record while Massena, OFA and Potsdam each finished 6-4. Chateaugay won the East title with a 13-1 record, followed closely by Madrid-Waddington (12-2) and Brushton-Moira (11-3). Hammond saw its two-year run as state Class D champions end, but the Red Devils tied Harrisville for the West title with a 13-1 record and reached the state semifinals.

Some of the top individual players returning this season include: Krista Lucas (St. Regis Falls), Lizzy Whalen (Morristown), Patty Coloney (Harrisville), Kelsey Johnson (Malone), Megan Johnson (Heuvelton) and Jaclyn Moore (Lisbon).