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Stenz to play college ball at Huntingdon College

Jeremy D. Smith , , , , , , ,
Chandler Stenz drives to the hoop against Patrician in the semi-finals of the AISA, Class A state tournament at Huntingdon College Wednesday, Feb. 13., 2013.
Chandler Stenz drives to the hoop against Patrician in the semi-finals of the AISA, Class A state tournament at Huntingdon College Wednesday, Feb. 13., 2013.

Marengo Academy senior point guard Chandler Stenz will continue her basketball career at Huntingdon College in Montgomery after committing to the Hawks Tuesday.

“They’ve been looking at me for a while because we play (the AISA state tournament) up there,” Stenz, who averaged 11.9 points and 5.5 assists per game as a senior, said. “This year they kind of went after me more.”

Stenz earned All-County honors as a junior and a senior in addition to garnering all-state accolades both years and winning the West Alabama Watchman Player of the Year award in 2012-2013.

“I was hoping I was. I think I can play at the next level and I was hoping that somebody would. Belhaven was looking at me. They are a NAIA school,” Stenz, who tallied more than 1,700 points in her career, said. “But I was hoping for somebody a little bit closer to home.”

“It’s big for us. We’ve had a lot of good athletes through here. We’ve got Jessica (Brock) over (at the University of West Alabama) playing softball, but nobody has gone and played basketball since Dana Tucker,” Marengo Academy girls basketball coach Danny Stenz said of what the signing means for the MA program. “It’s big for the program. Maybe it will generate some interest for the girls coming up.”

As she readies for the NCAA Division III level, Chandler will focus on developing aspects of her game she feels need work.

Chandler Stenz drives around the Patrician defense en route to a Lady Longhorn state championship earlier this year. Stenz will continue her playing career at Huntingdon College.
Chandler Stenz drives around the Patrician defense en route to a Lady Longhorn state championship earlier this year. Stenz will continue her playing career at Huntingdon College.

“Going right. My right hand is not that good right now. Just working on three pointers. I didn’t really shoot that good this year,” Chandler said. “They said they don’t have a point guard right now.”

“Chandler is really smart and she handles pressure well. I was going to put the ball in her hands at the end of a tight game. The other team knew it, but I didn’t care,” Danny said. “The competition is going to be a little bit better. She is really going to have to work, but I think she can handle it at that level.”

Chandler is also a standout softball player, having earned multiple all-state honors and the West Alabama Watchman Player of the Year award as a junior.

“I’ve played softball for so long, all year for five-plus years. I think I just got burned out on it,” Chandler said. “I’ve always liked basketball more. People say I’m better at softball, but I like basketball more.”