VC’s Leah Camel hopes to help Lady Eagles win another title

The Vermilion Catholic Lady Eagles basketball team is led by the dynamic duo of Ashailee Brailey and Kaylen Collins, but it is the solid play of junior point guard Leah Camel that serves as the glue of the team.
Whether it is her defensive pressure or passing ability, Camel does what it takes to keep the Lady Eagles winning.
The bashful guard has no idea of her value to the championship caliber squad.
“She is really humble,” said VC head coach Kim Guidry. “It’s to the point where she doesn’t even realize what she brings to the table.”
The seasoned point guard was a freshman on the 2013 state championship team, and she said that was a huge learning experience for her.
“That was really exciting,” Camel said. “That year I learned a lot about teamwork. It wasn’t one player that stood out. Everyone gave a little bit and everybody’s little bit was needed. You can’t depend on one person, everyone needs to give team effort.”
Camel reflected on that state championship game, in which she played a pivotal role in her team clinching the title when they beat No. 1 seed West St. John 54-52. She said it served as her most memorable moment of her high school career thus far.
“In the championship game, I was on the court the last few seconds when the game was really close,” Camel said. “It was nerve-racking, but knowing that I helped the team achieve that goal was probably the greatest moment so far.”
Camel’s older sister Natalie was senior when Leah was a Freshman, and Natalie helped Leah transition from Maltrait Memorial in Kaplan to VC.
“At first it was tough,” Leah said. “I came from a small school. Coming into a school with a lot of people, I was nervous. She (Natalie) helped me learn the ropes.”
Natalie, a good point guard in her own right, is someone who Leah said she models her game and work ethic after.
“I started playing basketball in the third grade on a fifth grade team at Maltrait,” Leah said. “My sister always played so I kind of always tried to live up to what she would do. She was pretty much my inspiration.”
Camel’s play on the court displays that she is calm and collected, and her production is consistent. The entire team is unselfish, and Camel fits the mold of the team entirely, according to Guidry.
“She’s our sparkplug,” Guidy said. “Last year she was defensive player of the district. She’s very unselfish. There are a lot of opportunities she could score on, but she gets the assist instead. That’s the whole idea of a team.”
With the Lady Eagles sitting on top District 7-1A Camel said she had high apsirations for her team this year.
“I want to win district, and of course a state championship,” she said. “I want to have a winning record for sure and go as far as we can go.”
The team concept has been a driving force behind their success, and it starts with all the girls, according to Guidry.
“Her (Camel) being able to look up to her older sister means family, and I think our VC family means a lot,” Guidry said. “The team is always together and they always look out for each other. If you enjoy each other outside of the team element then when the team gets together there is more chemistry. I think they are a bunch of great young ladies, and it takes five to play.”
VC will be in action at home Friday against Highland Baptist.