Ava Lannum: Cassidy Rowe Courage Award by Phoenix Stevens
For Ava Lannum, McLean County basketball is more than a game. It’s more than points, rebounds, and the scoreboard. “Ball is life” for the junior guard. From the very moment her family moved to McLean County, she had a ball in her hands.
“I was born in Lexington, KY,” Lannum explained. “My family and I moved to McLean County when I was four. It is where my mom is from. We moved into her home place. My siblings and I are the fourth generation to grow up on the land. McLean County is home — it’s the only place I have ever really known. I grew up fishing, running through the fields and playing ball.”
She added, “McLean County is a small tight knit community. It is full of people with big hearts. The whole community rallies around the sports teams. Football is like Friday Night Lights with tailgating, eating, and cheering. The stands at basketball games are full. It’s a time to catch up, laugh, and cheer. When you play a sport in McLean County, you are known. People keep up with your stats, talk to you about the game, and congratulate you on your wins. So, when you put on a McLean County jersey, you feel a sense of pride.”
Year four of the Ryan Groves tenure in Calhoun has been more of a feeling out process than anything. From roster moves to bringing in assistant coach Matt Huff to help out on the bench, this season has been one of making adjustments. Lannum described what that has been like.
“Our team is really young. At the beginning of the season, our only senior, Sarah Miller, injured her leg, and this caused her to miss some games. It also limited her playing time the rest of the season.” Being a junior, Lannum has been called on to step up for the Lady Cougars, and she has accepted the challenge.
“This moment caused me to step up for my teammates,” Lannum said. “My first couple years on the team, I was timid and I wasn’t aggressive offensively. This season, I have looked to score more and make things easier on my teammates. I am often forced to play the five position in our offense and defensive assignments due to other injuries sustained on our team. I am always up for any challenge set before me. Our season has been full of injuries and tragic accidents. Being one of the older ones on the team has been a great opportunity to mentor some of our younger girls coming up through the system. The future is bright for the McLean County girl’s basketball program.”
Earlier this season, the team suffered through a tragic loss that sent shockwaves throughout the community. Junior guard Sarah Johnson lost her mother, Gaye Johnson, in a fatal car accident. This event struck the team like a bus. Gaye was a beloved figure in McLean County. She had been a part of so many kids’ lives growing up, always bringing a positive and supportive personality with a smile on her face.
For Lannum, this wasn’t the first time that she had experienced something like this. Additionally, the Cassidy Rowe Courage Award signifies the fight that Lannum has shown while playing basketball — and in life — in order to avenge her late father.
“In 2022, I lost my dad to cancer. He and I were very close. Sports were one of the things we enjoyed together. It was one of the ways we connected. He taught me so much about basketball. At times, he was my coach and always my supporter. He taught me the fundamentals of the game and took me to trainers. But, he also taught me sportsmanship, what it is to be a good teammate, strength, and courage.”
Lannum added, “When my dad passed, it was very hard for me to think about stepping back into the gym. I knew he would no longer be sitting in his spot. There would be no more after game talks that I always looked forward to and now miss. I did finish the season, but once it ended, I didn’t know if I wanted to continue playing. I wanted to make my dad proud, but I didn’t know if I could do it without him. I almost quit the sport I love. I had to do a lot of praying and soul-searching.”
After many late nights and heartfelt conversations with God, Lannum decided that she’d give the game of basketball another try. She owed it to her teammates, her dad, and most importantly, herself. “I gave myself some time to grieve and I prayed for courage — the courage [my dad] taught me to have. The courage to play the game to the best of my ability. I did play again, and I give it all I have not only for my dad and teammates, but also for myself.”