Meet your Panther: Zoey Hambleton

Posted By: Dre Trota-Litsey
November 22, 2023 @ 6:17 am
Today's Local Sports

Zoey Hambleton, a guard for the women’s Panorama Panthers, shares the importance of communication and shared experience in her on-court strategy. In her own words, she highlights the importance of knowing her teammates, stating, “I’d say talking with your teammates and having that experience with him to know what they like and where they’re going to be at because once you build that connection then you know exactly where they’re going to be at when you drive you know they’re going to move or when they drive you know you’re going to move they’re going to kick out so just knowing each other and knowing how to play with each other ” For Zoey, this connection is the linchpin of successful teamwork, enabling a strong understanding of each player’s movements and decisions. “Definitely just not only from the coach but even from the teammates you just know we all have our own strengths and so sometimes I know if someone’s picking up a lot in the offense I know I’ll get back and really take up their defenses to help each other out and know exactly we all have different roles and just really knowing what’s your best at and how that’s going to help the team perform better.”

Hambleton’s mastery of this teamwork dynamic is rooted in a rich history with her senior counterparts. Having played together since the third grade, their shared journey through the years has built a unique understanding on the court. Zoey notes, “Especially the past two years, we know exactly where we’re going to be, where each other is going to be, what each other is going to do.” This long-standing friendship allows them to navigate the game with a precision that comes only from years of shared experiences and countless hours honing their craft together.

Her ability to connect with precision passes and contribute to the team’s scoreboard underscores the tangible benefits of a well-established on-court relationship. As Zoey puts it, “We kind of come together we know exactly what we need to do to finish the game it’s just really looking at each other and knowing exactly what we need to do to finish it out is the unspoken language that elevates their collective performance on the basketball court.