Briana Trigg is a leader for the Strawberry Crest Lady Chargers.
Strawberry Crest’s girls basketball team is young and working on a rebuild. Fortunately for the Lady Chargers, the Trigg sisters are leading the way. Briana Trigg leads the team with five assists per game, and is also averaging 14.5 points, 11 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game.
Know someone who deserves an Athlete of the Week feature? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com by the Friday before the next issue.
I see the team’s gotten off to a 2-0 start. What’s working for you all out there?
Trusting each other. We’re a young group, but we trust each other. That’s what’s going good.
You and your sister (Ayanna) are the leaders now. What’s it like, stepping into that role as seniors?
It’s crazy. I was just thinking about that the other day. I’ve had people like Terra (Brooks) and India (Corbin), who were older than me, leading. I was just like, “I’ll never be put in this position,” but here comes my senior year, and I’m in that position. It’s a humbling experience because you have people looking up to you.
What are some things you learned from Terra and India that you’re trying to teach the younger girls?
Always be a leader vocally. You have to tell them — when they’re young, they don’t know, they’re just getting their feet wet in a program — you can’t always get mad. You have to be quick to help.
Last season, I knew you and Ayanna as the Matthews twins. Now you’re the Trigg twins. What brought about the name change?
My mom decided to give us “Matthews” when we were born, and gave (the other siblings) “Trigg.” She wanted to change it so we all have the same name.
On the court, you and Ayanna look like you’ve picked up from where you left off at the end of last season. What’s the key to staying consistent?
With us, it’s defense. You can’t win games if you don’t play good defense. People think it’s all about scoring points but, if you can control the game by pressuring the ball and not letting your opponents score, that’s better than anything.
You and your sister have a bond that many athletes don’t. How do you make each other better, on and off the court?
She’s my best friend. We’re always in the gym. When we play one-on-one, we always talk trash to each other, get under each other’s skin and everything, but we make each other better by just going hard at each other. We never go easy.
Who’s winning the one-on-ones these days?
Oh, that’s usually me. No, I’m playing. It depends. She has her good days and I have my good days, but it’s always a close game.
I know the team’s in rebuild mode, but let’s say everyone does what they’re capable of and things go well. What’s Crest capable of, this year?
There is no limit with this team. We can go as far as we want, to be honest. It’s on us.
What’s some advice you would give to a freshman? What’s the most important thing to know about playing for the Lady Chargers?
That Coach (La’Tosha Lewis) doesn’t discriminate. If you’re getting it done, you will be out there. And it’s more so about your defense. You’ve got to take pride in everything you do. When you step on that floor, it’s defense — it’s business. If you want to score, you’re going to have to play defense.
What would you buy with $1 billion?
I’d start a charity. Right now, it would be for bone cancer. My AAU coach, he has stage 4 bone cancer. It’s hard, taking it in, so that would be my cause.
