Ed. Note: This week’s Gazette Female Featured Athlete from Tipp is senior Macey Griffin, who is eyeing a chance to reclaim the MVL girls basketball title this winter.

For the last three years, the Tippecanoe girls basketball team had to watch their neighbors from the south Butler hoist the MVL Miami Division title. It was a title that Tipp made a habit of winning every year. Red Devil senior Macey Griffin says it’s time to bring it back home.

Griffin, a returning guard who looks to be one of the key leaders this season, feels that things are coming together with a good summer to allow the Red Devils to recapture the crown.

“There is a lot of talent throughout the team, and we have major threats in all positions, which will help lead us to the MVL title,” Griffin predicted. “So far, summer training has helped the team connect with one another. Learning to work with each other early on is setting us up for success. I think that with our talent and chemistry, the MVL title will be ours.”

Griffin is one of the perimeter threats for the Red Devils, and she likes what she has seen this summer from a group of teammates who are focused on the big prize.

“Coach Grasso has helped our team tremendously already,” she said. “He wants everyone to play their own game and his style of play utilizes everyone within the offense and defense. With these differences, I believe that the team is already gaining more confidence and trust with each other.”

“During the summer training and scrimmages, I have seen more positive attitudes and overall players enjoying themselves at basketball. This summer has helped us prepare by building our confidence, chemistry, and bettering our style of play.”

For now, Griffin is improving her game and her stock with a solid spring travel ball season with the Dayton Metro, and she is preparing for a big month of July ahead.

“AAU has taught me many different things that you may not see in a regular high school game,” she said. “I have seen many different styles of play which has helped with my basketball IQ. My AAU coach, Cedric Thomas, has taught me high-level skills to basic fundamentals and has helped me expand my basketball knowledge, which I can transfer over into my senior season.”

“This coming July, my AAU team plans to travel to Louisville to compete in Nationals for the second year in a row, along with three other tournaments that I am very excited for.”

For now, Griffin is hoping her extra time helps her improve her game and maybe get a chance to play at the next level. She is not playing volleyball this fall to continue to work on her basketball skillset.

“The decision to give up volleyball was hard for me because I really miss my teammates and friends that I made through that sport,” she said. “But I wasn’t as passionate for volleyball as I am for basketball. I realized that if I truly wanted to work on my game, I would need for time to train. In the off season, I go to P413 to improve my strength and endurance for basketball.”

“If the perfect opportunity comes up, I will be more than happy to extend my basketball career. My future plan is to attend college out of state and pursue an international business degree. Along with that, I plan to obtain a real estate license and become a realtor.”