“Going through all of that – breaking my leg and all of that – it was difficult for me, but I knew that I still had to be there for my team, and I had to make sure that they were doing okay through it. I got over it and then it was all better.””

Macey Lauridson

Eagle Ridge Academy star point guard Macey Lauridson signed her National Letter of Intent to play for McPherson College in Kansas on Feb. 18. 

Lauridson – a four-year varsity player – currently leads the Eagle Ridge Warriors with a career-high 11.5 points per game. The McPherson College Bulldogs compete in the NAIA Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and are coached by Josh Nichols.

Warriors Head Coach Keith Casey came to Eagle Ridge Academy the same year Lauridson did – making her his first four-year player. Casey said that while he is proud of Lauridson for moving on to play at the next level, she will be deeply missed at Eagle Ridge – where she earned the nickname “the devil” for her tenacious, no-holds barred style of play – next year.

“It’s a huge honor,” said Casey. “At the same time, it’s saddening because I won’t have her here next year. For four years I’ve been calling her ‘my devil.’ I’m losing my devil this year.”

Lauridson’s Eagle Ridge career has not been free of obstacles. She broke her leg three games into her sophomore season but battled back in time to be a part of the Warriors playoff run. Last year, as a junior, she cut her chin open during a game and had to get medical attention but returned for the game’s closing seconds and led the Warriors to victory.

Persistent on and off the court, Lauridson swiftly brushes off adversity, stating that for her, overcoming injuries are just part of being a team player.

“Going through all of that – breaking my leg and all of that – it was difficult for me,” said Lauridson. “But I knew that I still had to be there for my team, and I had to make sure that they were doing okay through it. I got over it and then it was all better.”

Lauridson said she chose to play at McPherson because she believes she will be a good fit in Nichols’ system, and she likes the school’s small class sizes. An accomplished farmer, Lauridson will be able to continue that pursuit in Kansas as well because her family has land in the Sunflower State.

She said farming has taught her valuable lessons about working hard and doing things right – values she’s applied to basketball as well.

“[Farming] teaches you that you always have to work hard,” said Lauridson. “You have to do things in a certain amount of time, and you have to do them right –if you don’t do them right something bad could happen. You always have to do what you need to do, and if you can’t, you have to work at it to be better.”