Maddie Martinez realizes it’s a new era at Oak Forest, and she wants to help build the foundation of what comes next for the Bengals.
The sophomore guard knew running the point after the graduation of nine seniors, including LSU recruit Janae Kent, wasn’t going to be easy.
Yes, there have been growing pains, but the 5-foot-7 Martinez is cognizant of the fact there is a bigger picture — creating an identity for the program.
“It’s step by step, honestly,” Martinez said before practice. “We’re starting with a very young team. Not everyone plays basketball outside of high school, so it’s pretty hard.
“We keep on working together, taking what we need learn from games back into practice. That’s helped a lot.”
Martinez, who’s averaging 12 points, is the type of player who wants to get up in the morning and go work out, which is what she does, either in Oak Forest’s gym or at the Crestwood Recreation & Wellness Center.
Sure, there are mornings when motivation is tough to find. But her philosophy is simple.
Every moment in the gym matters.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a kid with her work ethic,” Oak Forest coach Jeff Kelly said. “Everything. She wants to get into the weight room. She wants to get up in the morning and shoot.”
It’s already Martinez’s second year on the varsity, and as a point guard, she’s partially responsible for making sure everyone on the court is on the same page.
To that end, she’s meshed well with 6-0 senior forward Keira Clancy, a starter last season alongside Kent, and freshman forward Natalia Covarrubias.
Although there’s a big difference there in age, they are cognizant of the bigger picture.
“We have to find our own identity in the sense we need more ballhandlers and we need to learn to put the ball the hoop efficiently without having people do it for us,” Clancy said.
It’s been a rough go so far for Oak Forest (2-10), but there have been moments when everything has come together.
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In the Bengals’ 49-22 victory over Thornridge in the Nov. 27 home opener, Covarrubias had a team-high 12 points and nine rebounds. Martinez and senior forward Ivy Izguerra each added 10 points.
“I think that we’re trying to create a positive energy around our team to build more confidence in our games,” Covarrubias said. “We’re taking it step by step.”
Covarrubias, who’s averaging four points and five rebounds, is an interesting case, having taken up the sport just two years ago.
She’s soaking up as much knowledge as she can about the game from Clancy and Martinez.
“They tell me to push myself every single day at practice to become a better player,” she said. “Shoot the ball with confidence and don’t let a bad practice affect you.”
Martinez is becoming the leader that Oak Forest defers to during these tough situations as she develops those skills.
She hasn’t replaced Kent, of course, but she’s conducting her business in a similar vein, according to Clancy.
“She’s become the person who scores the most, and she’s more of the leader on the court in what plays we’re running,” Clancy said. “I think she’s doing that really well, and I admire her for that.”
In other words, the foundation is there for what will fill out the bigger picture. And Martinez, Clancy and Covarrubias have a fan some 400 miles to the south.
“I feel like just keep grinding,” Kent said via LSU’s sports information department. “It’s hard, but take every day and figure out what you can do better.
“Don’t think about wins and losses … Defense is going to be our day, so little things like that to find team togetherness.”
Gregg Voss is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.