1580 miles from her hometown, Tori Andrew is the new girl on the court.  Tori Andrew, a freshman from Orlando, Fl. is expected to give the girls basketball team a new and helpful edition.

Andrew moved from Florida because of her fathers job.  This past June, she joined her dad who moved up to Minnesota in Feb. This allowed Andrew to play summer basketball and adjust to the changes Minnesota basketball has compared to that of Florida basketball.

“In Florida the teams are based on athleticism, but here the game is slower paced and more off of skill,” Andrew said.

Aside from the game itself being a bit different than Andrew is used to, the coaching staff is also a bit different.  “The coaching is very different than what I am used to, but in the best way possible,” Andrew said.  “Coach Ellen and Lo really know what they are doing.”

Andrew has been playing basketball since first grade and is a shooting guard.  “Tori is an all around basketball player.  She is a great shooter, scorer and defender,” head girls basketball coach Ellen Wiese said.

Players from any team can be nervous for the beginning of a new season, especially to be the new player on the team, but nerves were far from Andrew’s mind.  “I’m not nervous, but I can’t wait for the season to start.” Andrew said. “We’ve been getting so pumped as a team and we are anxious to get on the road to state.”

In her first game for the Spartans Andrew scored three points.  In her second game, Andrew led the team in scoring by raking in 11 points.  The third game for the Spartans, Andrew added four points, according to the Minnesota Girls Basketball Hub website.

Andrew and the Orono team played together over the summer and in fall league games in preparation for the winter season.  Many players agreed that Andrew was a great fit for the team.

“Tori fits in with the team really well.  She gelled with the team right away,” senior captain Shelby Earley said.

The rest of the team felt Andrew was a good fit as well.  “She connected right away with everyone on the team,” junior Rachel Heussner said.  “She is a great addition to our team.”

On the court Tori is “physical and not afraid of contact.  She also has a great desire to compete and win,” Wiese said.

Heussner said Andrew is always talking and is very encouraging and energetic.  “She is a really good teammate with great knowledge of the game.”

Off the court Andrew said she enjoys Orono.  “I love Orono and I am really glad that we chose the school.”

Andrew’s personality off the court  is “crazy” and “funny” said Earley.

She is also good with the younger girls.  The girls team does a mentoring program where girls help coach K-8th grade teams.  At the practices and clinics Andrew was “very energetic, engaged and playful.  The girls love her,” Wiese said.

The team also helps with Miracle Buddies, a program where the girls can help children with special needs play basketball, Wiese said Andrew was awesome with those kids as well.

Away from the basketball court, Andrew is also a great friend.  “Tori is the type of friend you can always go to for a good laugh or a deep conversation,” freshmen Megan Geelan said.