Girls Basketball Player of the Year: ‘She’s just a really good competitor’ Riley Doggett led Oswego East on, off the court

Riley Doggett’s season had a delayed start that left her on pins and needles.

The Oswego East junior was at a gym the Friday before tryouts when she sprained her ankle. She missed tryouts and was a limited observer when practice started.

“Never been injured before where I had to sit out. I was on the sidelines going crazy,” Doggett said. “I just wanted to play.”

Fortunately for the Wolves, Doggett did not miss any games with the ankle injury. She came back to play, and did so quite well.

A versatile talent who can play both inside and out, Doggett averaged a team-best 11 points and six rebounds. She defended both guards and posts.

Doggett was a big reason why the Wolves finished third in the conference and reached a regional final. Oswego East had a modest 13-17 record, perhaps deceiving considering its strength of schedule that included games with Class 3A runner-up Nazareth, supersectional team Sycamore and Fremd.

“She is a player who can carry the team if she needed to, especially on the offensive end,” Oswego East coach Abe Carretto said. “She was one of those players that took the shot at the right time and had some pretty big games for us. I just feel like throughout the year she kept getting better and better.”

For her efforts, Riley Doggett is the Record Newspapers Player of the Year.

Doggett received quite an introduction to varsity basketball two seasons ago. She was pulled up to varsity as a freshman and made her debut against state power Fremd.

Doggett was an understudy under four-year varsity starter Christine Corpuz on that team, but has matured into Oswego East’s leader both in talent and the manner she carries herself.

She’s grown physically, too.

“Her freshman year, the game against Oswego that went into double overtime, there was a picture and she was in the background, and she was so skinny,” Carretto said. “She has worked out a lot, lifted and you can see the transformation. She is physically much bigger in the arms and shoulders. You can see how much work she has put into lifting to get stronger. There’s a reason she did so well for us. That’s why she is able to guard some bigger players.”

Indeed, Doggett said she tries to get to the gym three to four times a week.

“Freshman year I didn’t lift at all, I probably went to the gym about a handful of times,” Doggett said. “Now it’s one of my favorite things to do.”

A girl who can score both around the rim and from the perimeter, Doggett attempted more free throws than any other Oswego East player. Carretto said she performed well in clutch spots. Doggett, for her part, reflected on what she believed was a more consistent season.

“Last year, I wasn’t as consistent. It’s something I wanted to improve on this year, and I did,” Doggett said. “I think my shot selection improved and it’s something I want to continue next year.”

Defensively, Doggett made it a point to want to be on the ball in Oswego East’s press, fueling the fast pace the Wolves preferred to play.

“She jumps high, has good agility, it’s a good person to have there,” Carretto said. “If she gets a steal she attacks well. When we’re setting up she’s like ‘I want to be on the ball.’ It’s nice to see that confidence that she has to want to hound the basketball.”

As much as anything, Carretto noticed a girl gaining in confidence, speaking up more, as a “mother leader” for the Wolves.

While Doggett doesn’t say a ton, Carretto saw a girl more vocal in down time, making sure everybody was on the same page in practice, providing a positive example in continuing to cheer for her teammates when she was subbed out during games.

“She can be lighthearted, but she takes games and practices very seriously,” Carretto said. “I don’t recall her ever having a bad practice. She brings that intensity all the time, is always intense and ready to go. She doesn’t hold back defensively or offensively. She’s just a really good competitor.”