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INDIAN RIVER – If you watch Chloe Robinson on the basketball court, there’s an undeniable intensity and will to win no matter what game it is.
But of all the notable moments from Robinson’s recent junior campaign, Inland Lakes coach Daryl Vizina said one sticks with him even weeks after the Bulldogs’ season ended.
DISTRICT 3-PEAT: Three-peat! Inland Lakes girls basketball defeats Rogers City in district final
ALL-SKI VALLEY GIRLS BASKETBALL: Two Bulldogs, two Cardinals, one Hornet make Ski Valley girls basketball first team
It didn’t come on the court after the Bulldogs lost to St. Ignace in a regional final.
It was on the team bus heading back home.
“I was sitting up at the front of the bus, and Chloe came up and sat down in the seat next to me and said, ‘Coach, what do I have to work on for next season?’” Vizina recalled. “I think that was kind of the moment where you realized she was all in. She’s already going, ‘I don’t want to feel like this again and I’ll be willing to do what it’s going to take to fix it.
“I didn’t have an answer for her, to be honest, but the fact that she’s thinking that way kind of tells you where her head is at, and any coach is going to love that.”
When any player has that mentality, they usually succeed. This past season was no different for Robinson, who has been named the Daily Tribune’s 2024-25 girls basketball player of the year following a campaign in which she averaged 15 points and eight rebounds, played elite defense, and sparked Inland Lakes to a third consecutive district title.
“I think she matured,” Vizina said of Robinson. “Not that she wasn’t mature, but she just grew as a player, and I think she got better skill-wise, but I think just her mental approach, having been through these battles for a couple years. She just seemed more prepared mentally for the game, and I think that reflected in more consistent performances.”
ALL-AREA BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM: Cheboygan's Kiefer, the Daily Tribune's POY, leads 2024-25 all-area boys basketball team
BOYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kiefer, Cheboygan's 'ball of energy,' is Daily Tribune's boys basketball player of year
As the leader of the Inland Lakes frontcourt, Robinson’s efficient performances spearheaded the Bulldogs to a 21-win campaign and a runner-up finish in the Ski Valley. Of all her standout games, Vizina singled out a 20-point night in an overtime loss at eventual Ski Valley champion Gaylord St. Mary as the best.
“We obviously had a chance to win the game at the end and it didn’t work out for us, but the reason we were in that position was because of her, and I think at that moment – we all knew it, but it just hadn’t materialized yet – that’s the moment she kind of took the crown as far as who’s the leader of the team, she emerged from that point on, and there were no more questions,” Vizina said.
With the Bulldogs poised to field another loaded squad in 2025-26, Robinson will be the top senior back to lead the team. With younger Bulldogs getting a glimpse of Robinson’s talent and relentlessness on the court, it’ll only inspire the program to go for a regional title it oh-so craves.
“When you see a player show that sort of effort, it becomes contagious,” Vizina said. “Some of younger players got a year to see Chloe play like that, and I think she brought the level of the team up and what the expectations are in practices, and even in games, so I think having her back will continue to elevate what the expectations are for not just for the team, win-loss record or banners, but also the day-to-day performance in practices and summer open gyms.
“I would love for her this summer to complete take control of the team, and I think it’s there for her.”
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Inland Lakes' Robinson is Cheboygan Tribune girls basketball player of year
Continue reading...
But of all the notable moments from Robinson’s recent junior campaign, Inland Lakes coach Daryl Vizina said one sticks with him even weeks after the Bulldogs’ season ended.
DISTRICT 3-PEAT: Three-peat! Inland Lakes girls basketball defeats Rogers City in district final
ALL-SKI VALLEY GIRLS BASKETBALL: Two Bulldogs, two Cardinals, one Hornet make Ski Valley girls basketball first team
It didn’t come on the court after the Bulldogs lost to St. Ignace in a regional final.
It was on the team bus heading back home.
“I was sitting up at the front of the bus, and Chloe came up and sat down in the seat next to me and said, ‘Coach, what do I have to work on for next season?’” Vizina recalled. “I think that was kind of the moment where you realized she was all in. She’s already going, ‘I don’t want to feel like this again and I’ll be willing to do what it’s going to take to fix it.
“I didn’t have an answer for her, to be honest, but the fact that she’s thinking that way kind of tells you where her head is at, and any coach is going to love that.”
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When any player has that mentality, they usually succeed. This past season was no different for Robinson, who has been named the Daily Tribune’s 2024-25 girls basketball player of the year following a campaign in which she averaged 15 points and eight rebounds, played elite defense, and sparked Inland Lakes to a third consecutive district title.
“I think she matured,” Vizina said of Robinson. “Not that she wasn’t mature, but she just grew as a player, and I think she got better skill-wise, but I think just her mental approach, having been through these battles for a couple years. She just seemed more prepared mentally for the game, and I think that reflected in more consistent performances.”
ALL-AREA BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM: Cheboygan's Kiefer, the Daily Tribune's POY, leads 2024-25 all-area boys basketball team
BOYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kiefer, Cheboygan's 'ball of energy,' is Daily Tribune's boys basketball player of year
As the leader of the Inland Lakes frontcourt, Robinson’s efficient performances spearheaded the Bulldogs to a 21-win campaign and a runner-up finish in the Ski Valley. Of all her standout games, Vizina singled out a 20-point night in an overtime loss at eventual Ski Valley champion Gaylord St. Mary as the best.
“We obviously had a chance to win the game at the end and it didn’t work out for us, but the reason we were in that position was because of her, and I think at that moment – we all knew it, but it just hadn’t materialized yet – that’s the moment she kind of took the crown as far as who’s the leader of the team, she emerged from that point on, and there were no more questions,” Vizina said.
You must be registered for see images attach
With the Bulldogs poised to field another loaded squad in 2025-26, Robinson will be the top senior back to lead the team. With younger Bulldogs getting a glimpse of Robinson’s talent and relentlessness on the court, it’ll only inspire the program to go for a regional title it oh-so craves.
“When you see a player show that sort of effort, it becomes contagious,” Vizina said. “Some of younger players got a year to see Chloe play like that, and I think she brought the level of the team up and what the expectations are in practices, and even in games, so I think having her back will continue to elevate what the expectations are for not just for the team, win-loss record or banners, but also the day-to-day performance in practices and summer open gyms.
“I would love for her this summer to complete take control of the team, and I think it’s there for her.”
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Inland Lakes' Robinson is Cheboygan Tribune girls basketball player of year
Continue reading...
