Highland is Payton Reid’s team.
The senior guard has been a key player for the Trojans since she was a freshman, initially coming off the bench as a top sub before joining the starting lineup midway through that season.
She has gained a lot of experience during her career and seen a lot of things.
But there’s been added responsibility this season.
“She’s the go-to,” Highland coach Darian Straughter said. “She’s our captain. She does whatever it is we ask her to do. If the girls are having any issues, we go through her, or she comes to us so we can figure out what to change or how to do things better.
“She’s just a tough kid. She loves the game. She’s great in the classroom too. She’s always the first one in the gym, the last one to leave. She loves what she does, and that’s really all you can ask for from a kid. The more you love it, the more you’re going to give. Her attitude is great.”
Reid is averaging 11.8 points and 3.5 rebounds for Highland (8-3). Of course, she has received plenty of support, including from players such as junior Aaliyah Keil, who has been playing out of position at power forward for the betterment of the team, and guard Jordan Steele, who has made an impact as a freshman.
But especially with the 2022 graduation of Chloe Churilla — largely the face of the Trojans in recent seasons and their leading scorer in each of the past three — Reid has moved to the forefront.
“In past years, I could just play,” Reid said. “I didn’t really have to be that type of vocal leader. I could just show it by playing. Now I have to try extra hard to be that type of leader.
“I’ve done a good job of having energy on the court and being there to pick everyone up and get focused. That’s one of my roles this season. I had to step it up.”
Reid averaged 10.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.3 steals last season. She added range to her jump shot and improved her ability to attack the basket.
As a junior, she played AAU for the first time.
“That was a big defining moment because I was able to evaluate my game and really my weaknesses and what I needed to work on,” Reid said. “Driving right was my biggest weakness, and it gave me a ton of confidence. That built up my confidence, for sure.”
In the spring, Reid was traveling to Indianapolis for practice three days a week. With that schedule, she opted to join the track team instead of playing softball, which she had done in each of her first two years, including starting in left field as a sophomore.
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A distance runner, Reid wound up being named the team’s MVP, calling that honor “cool,” although she is planning to return to softball. She also ran cross country for the first time during the recent fall season as Highland won the Northwest Crossroads Conference title.
“That was crazy,” Reid said. “It was a whole different type of sport than what I was used to. It was fun. I’ve tested the waters plenty all over.”
Reid and the Trojans also have visions of cutting down nets this season. They’ve moved down to Class 3A from 4A and could be in position to challenge for a sectional championship, having last won such a title in 2007.
“We’re unselfish with the ball and play as a team,” Reid said. “We work together. It’s just a great group of girls. We’re all really close, so it’s fun to play with them.”
And she’s in the process of putting together her best season yet.
Reid said she is leaning toward attending Hope College, with the possibility of playing for the Division III program.
“Whatever school she goes to, they’re going to get a great kid overall, not just about basketball, just overall a great kid,” Straughter said. “She’s one of the hidden gems in the Region.
“She’s taken on a bigger leadership role this year. Last year we had Chloe Churilla and a couple of other seniors that had that experience. But she’s a four-year varsity player, and this year she’s taken on a bigger leadership role vocally and in the game too. Her skill set has grown tremendously just with the work she’s put in.”