MILLER, Mo. — Miller had big goals for this girls basketball season even before the most famous Lady Cardinal of them all took over the program this offseason.
In their first year under Hannah Wilkerson, Missouri’s all-time leading scorer, Miller is off to a 5-2 start as they defend their first district championship since 2010.
That title was fueled by one thing: barbecue wings.
Wait… what?
“There’s a local cafe and I started doing that last year during the whole week of districts and we won,” senior Abby Gann said. “Now, I order them every game day for lunch.”
Alright, Gann’s actual ability may have played a part as well. The 5-9 senior has evolved immensely since moving to Miller from Ozark as a sophomore. She played some junior varsity as a freshman with the Lady Tigers, but was instantly thrust into varsity after the move.
One year later, the Lady Cardinals hoisted their first trophy since Wilkerson’s senior year.
“I could tell there was a change of attitude and a little more desire after winning that district championship,” Wilkerson said. “They want to work hard and just want more.”
Wilkerson’s first glimpse of Gann came two years ago when she was an assistant at rival Greenfield. She knew the sophomore would grow into a formidable player, but Wilkerson still can’t say enough about her growth.
“She absorbs everything you tell her. She wants to learn. She wants to be better and you always find her in the gym. ”
Sometimes, the coach points out something that Gann didn’t even know she could do, but adapting her game has only meant good things for the Lady Cardinals.
“I used to strictly shoot outside, but after moving here, my teammates helped me realize that the drives are there,” Gann said. “I can get open looks at the basket and also kick out to them more. I guess I have a more inside-out game as well now.”
That push to drive into the lane more often has resulted in more trips to the free throw line for Gann than any Lady Cardinal. It’s helped her average a team-high 19.4 points, dropping efforts like a 28-point, 5-reoubd, 3-block performance against Verona.
“She’s a very competitive kid and that’s how I am, so I love someone who has that game face,” Wilkerson said. “I like players that ask me questions and want to get better and Abby is definitely one of those.”
Gann’s athletic career has not been bump-free, but even the pitfalls have led to new ventures. Take, for example, her return to volleyball when she first moved to Miller.
“I broke my right pinky and during the surgery I actually woke up and I had to stay awake because I was reacting to it. I got to experience orthopedic surgery first-hand. That sparked an interest and I totally wanted to get involved after that.”
First-hand, literally.
Now, she’s a year-round participant in Medical Explorers at with CoxHealth, a program that allows 15-20-year-olds to shadow at medical facilities, and plans to study orthopedics in college.
But first, she has a repeat performance in mind for his last season. She and her teammates know that, after running into eventual Class 2 Champion Crane last season, there is a path to Columbia.
“Once you get a taste of winning you want it back so badly. That’s what we’re striving for this year. There’s totally an open door this year. Class 2 is very competitive, but we have the skills and players to make it to state.”
