A-K Valley Athletes of Week: Deer Lakes’ Brad Perrotte, Freeport’s Maddie Clark

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, January 22, 2019 | 7:33 PM

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Brad Perrotte

School: Deer Lakes

Class: Senior

Sport: Basketball

Report card: Standout play from Perrotte has helped Deer Lakes (10-4, 7-0) rise to a No. 5 ranking in Class 3A. The 5-foot-9 guard leads the Lancers in scoring (20.8 points per game) and free-throw percentage (84 percent). A two-year starter, Perrotte has put up double-digit numbers in all but two games this season. He scored a season-high 25 twice (Knoch and Valley). Perrotte plays AAU basketball for Basketball Stars of America.

How long have you been playing basketball?

I’ve been playing basketball since fourth grade.

How confident is this team playing at the moment?

We’re playing with a lot of confidence. We’re looking at it as not many people expected us to be where we are right now.

Do you think this team is starting to get some respect?

I think so. We’re not as storied as a program as some of these other schools but you have to start somewhere.

What’s special about this team?

I think it’s our intensity and our passion for winning.

How does it feel to be ranked No. 5 in Class 3A?

It’s nice. It gives us some recognition, and hopefully, we get some people to the games.

Has the gym been filling up more as the season has gone on?

It has. It started out a little slow but last Friday was pretty awesome to see all of the people come out.

Where do the Lancers need to improve the most before the postseason?

I think we need to shore up our rebounding. Second-chance opportunities have kind of been our downfall this year.

What is the strength of this year’s team?

Our balance and playing together and how we play off each other

Who is the comedian in the locker room?

Definitely junior forward Ryan Butler.

Who is the unsung hero on the team?

Aris Hasley. The energy he plays with gets us going.

With the game on the line, who on the team takes the last shot?

I think it’s whoever has the hot hand. Coach knows what he’s doing, and he’ll draw up the right play.

Who is your favorite NBA player and team?

OKC Thunder and my favorite player is Paul George.

What three words best describe you?

Hardworking. Driven. Focused.

What three people would you like to have dinner with?

Paul George, Russell Westbrook and Steven Adams.

Do you have a favorite basketball movie?

Probably “Space Jam.” I’m not a big movie guy.

What is your favorite subject at school?

History.

What are your plans for after high school?

If I can play basketball, I’d look at that. Probably go somewhere locally for athletic training.

What is something interesting about you that nobody knows?

I like fishing when we go on vacation. Me and my family go to Deep Creek, Md.

Maddie Clark

School: Freeport

Class: Junior

Sport: Basketball

Report card: The No. 4-ranked Yellowjackets (12-2, 8-1) have a swarm of shooters on the court, and Clark is one of the busiest. The 5-foot-6 guard ranks second on the team in scoring (12.8 average) and total points (167). Clark has 10 double-digit scoring performances this season, including a career-high 31 against Burrell and a team-high 17 against top-ranked North Catholic. She’s also the starting setter on Freeport’s girls volleyball team and plans to become a member of the Freeport track team this spring.

How long have you been playing basketball?

I’ve been playing since first grade.

How confident is this team playing at the moment?

I think our team is really confident where we’re at now. We still have to make improvements.

What’s special about this team?

We have a lot of shooters. All five girls on the court can shoot. In addition to that, we have our quickness and athleticism.

What does the No. 4 ranking mean to you and the team?

It does mean a lot, especially to the end of the regular season, the top four (teams) get a bye.

After losing the first game, what do the Yellowjackets need to do to get a win over section rival and top-ranked North Catholic?

I think we really just have to play with confidence and to believe that we have the capability to beat them. What hurt us the first time was our boxing out and rebounding.

Who is the comedian in the locker room?

Definitely Haley Graham.

Who is the unsung hero on the team?

I’d say Harley Holloway, especially being new this year.

With the game on the line, who on the team takes the last shot?

We have a lot of shooters. My sister (Samantha), she really makes a lot of 3-pointers. I’d say her.

You and Samantha are twins. Who is older?

I’m six minutes older.

What’s the defining characteristic that people use to tell you both apart?

A lot of people say that my sister’s eyes droop a little more.

Who wins in a game of one-on-one between you and Samantha?

That’s hard. We used to play all the time but we haven’t played in a while. I’m going to go with me.

Who is your favorite NBA player and team?

I Iove Russell Westbrook and the OKC Thunder.

Do you have a favorite basketball movie?

“Hoosiers.”

What three words best describe you?

Determined. Athletic. Hardworking.

What three people would you like to have dinner with?

Russell Westbrook, LeBron James and Frank Ocean.

What is your favorite subject at school?

English.

What is something interesting about you that nobody knows?

I used to play the piano. I took lessons for like five or six years.

What was your favorite song to play?

I really like to play Taylor Swift. I played (her) one song “Fifteen” for recital.

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Deer Lakes, Freeport