Sporting Views: Johanna Levine Leads Good Counsel Cougars on the Hardwood
It didn’t take me long to figure out that Good Counsel’s Johanna Levine has plenty of game on the basketball court. She transferred from Our Lady of Victory to Good Counsel before her sophomore year of high school a year ago. Last year even though she was only a sophomore she started most games for the Cougars and was their leading scorer in many of the games.
Levine isn’t only a talented athlete but she also excels in the classroom as well. She was just recently named to the school’s National Honor Society.
This season so far as a junior Levine’s game has improved significantly compared to a year ago. In one of the Cougars first games this year at Eastchester High School she led her team to victory by scoring 23 points.
Several weeks ago the Cougars upset the White Plains Tigers on their floor and Levine was a big part of that victory leading her team with 14 points in a very fine win for the Cougars
“It felt amazing,” said Levine after the Cougars beat the Tigers. “We could have played better but as a team I think we are getting better as the season goes along. I feel that we can beat anyone in Westchester.”
So far Levine’s season high in scoring in the season has been the 23 points versus Eastchester. She recently had 22 points in a team victory over Sacred Heart. Also in that same game she had four steals, five rebounds and five assists. The Cougars have a 6-2 record going in the holiday break and won’t play again until January 4th against Spellman
She started playing basketball when she was in the third grade. Her favorite teams to root for are the New York Knicks and Duke. Levine’s favorite basketball player was Jason Kidd when he played across the Hudson River for the New Jersey Nets. The things she loves most about the game of basketball is winning and playing with her team.
During the 2011-2012 season Levine was a spot up shooter for the most part. So far in the 2012-2013 season she is showing more confidence putting the ball on the floor and going to the basket.
“Ms. Lynch my coach has been telling me that once you drive to the basket and get into the middle there are so many more options. I feel like once I do that and other players on the team do that we’re going to get a lot more points,” said Levine about she and her teammates attempting to drive to the basket more under their coach’s instructions.
Lynch really believes that Levine’s game can go to new heights if she drives to the basket more.
“I have been encouraging her,” said Lynch about trying to teach Levine to attack the hoop more. “She has not only going to the rim for a lay-up but she has a nice pull up little jump shot when she gets into the paint. It makes her unstoppable. She can score from anywhere.”
Levine has high ambitions for her academic and basketball career. She would continue to play basketball at the collegiate level after she graduates from Good Counsel.
“ I want to see if I can play in college. That would be amazing. I’m looking at two schools. It would a dream to play in college,” said Levine.
Levine believes the Cougars can go far come the postseason later this winter.
“I think we can go to states definitely and win. I truly believe it,” said Levine.
If the Cougars go deep into the playoffs one of the reasons will be the play and leadership of Levine. Lynch feels that Levine has every characteristic you want in a student-athlete and in a leader.
“Johanna is wonderful, lovely, happy,” said Lynch. “She is very talkative. She talks to all of the girls. There is not one kid at school or on the team who doesn’t like Johanna. She is a leader. She doesn’t need to be loud. She’s encouraging. She’s very positive. She never has a negative word for anyone in any situation. She is really a great leader on the floor and works hard and everyone wants to be around her.”
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