A contagious winning attitude combined with the ability to accurately shoot 3-point baskets makes Mauldin High basketball player Tori Whittenberg one of the Mavericks’ most valuable assets.
The winning started at a young age for Whittenberg. While she was at Mauldin Middle, her team was 33-0 and won two straight Greenville County championships. Heather Perry, Mauldin Middle coach, said she saw the skill Whittenberg possessed and built on it.
“Tori was willing to put the game on her shoulders, and the team knew how much she wanted to win,” Perry said. “She was aggressive and she worked hard. She loved to play basketball and wanted to be there. She was my leading scorer for two years. She ran the point for me and she has adjusted to high school really well and picked up her game.”
While the 3-point shot is what is talked about, Whittenberg doesn’t want that to be called her strong point.
“I try to make the best part of my game being involved with my teammates,” Whittenberg said. “I do work on my 3-pointers. I hit 11 in a scrimmage game but the most I have hit in a regular game was seven.”
According to Mauldin coach Angel Stepp, Whittenberg is averaging 12 points per game and is 26 percent from 3-point range.
“Like most guards that play her position, she needs to understand shot selection; especially when her shot is not falling as well as creating and recognizing tempo when she is at the point position. These are things that will come with experience,” Stepp said.
Whittenberg is always looking for ways to improve her overall game and is working hard on defense and rebounding. She said those areas are behind the offense because, unlike offense, she cannot practice them by herself.