Sophie MacCartney, Lancaster County Christian School
What’s your basketball origin story and what’s the journey been like since then?
MacCartney: “My dad was a great athlete. Since I was little I’ve been into basketball. I started attending Lancaster County Christian School in fifth grade. That’s when I started playing basketball. I’ve been playing ever since.”
Do you play other sports? If so, how do those translate to basketball?
MacCartney: “I also play soccer. Soccer is definitely not my first sport. But I enjoy it a lot because it keeps me active. I go from soccer season straight into basketball season. It (soccer) keeps me in shape. The aggression from soccer I carry over to basketball.”
Who is someone that’s had the most impact on your basketball game?
MacCartney: “My dad (Brandon MacCartney). We work on basketball a lot together. He was also a guard. So he’s good at dribbling and quick movement. So he helps me a lot with that. He played at Houghton University in New York. He met my mom there. My mom is from Lancaster. She told him if they get married that he had to move here (to Lancaster).”
What are you excited about with this year’s team?
MacCartney: “We graduated a lot of seniors. They were all starters. This year is a new team pretty much. We got two unexpected players who will be good additions to our team. I’m excited to see how we will work together.”
Anything that you’ve added to your game or worked on over the offseason?
MacCartney: “Last year I was more of a shooting guard. This year I’m a point guard. So over the summer I worked on dribbling and passing with a trainer. I’m excited to bring that into being a point guard this year.”
Time for some fun questions. What are your plans after graduation?
MacCartney: “Right now I’m taking a gap year in Colorado or Montana. If I come back I’ll go to Messiah University and study psychology. I want to do sports psychology and travel with a college team. It’s interesting to watch how the human brain is affected by sports. For example, my sister plays volleyball and whenever it comes down to the last point in a set they often miss the serve. Obviously it’s a mental game. Just how your brain works within that.”
Do you have any hobbies outside of sports?
MacCartney: “I used to do Irish dance. I stopped after seventh grade.”
What’s your favorite Bible verse that motivates you?
MacCartney: “Psalm 27:1. The girls in my class are studying Esther. It’s cool to see how God used her and how much confidence she had to approach the king. She risked her whole life for that for her people.”
