In her final year of playing high school basketball, Taylor Whited is playing with a bigger purpose.
The Montezuma-Cortez senior has grown each season since her freshman year, becoming the team’s top returning scorer and leader in assists and steals, thanks to her dedication and hard work as a driving force for the Panthers.
Since her freshman year, Montezuma-Cortez has steadily climbed higher in league standings. Whited, along with teammates Kalea Ogo and Sariah Jackson, has been central to that progress.
Whited earned her first 3A all-state honorable mention recognition last season after helping the Panthers reach the 3A Sweet 16 and secure third place in both the Intermountain League and district tournament – one of the team’s best finishes in recent years.
This year, Whited has taken on the role of team leader, focusing on elevating her game and advancing girls basketball with strong support from her community.
With her success, Whited credits the growth of her game to her growing confidence on the court and working with her teammates to make plays on offense. The Panthers under sixth-year head coach Brad Wright pride themselves on high intensity and turning hounding defense into quick opportunities at the other end.
“On defense and on offense, I’m more aggressive,” Whited said, who sees herself in control of the operation of the Panthers action sets in the half-court. “Working with my team on running an offense has helped us out a lot.”
Whited’s aggressive play has made her a vital asset to the Panthers’ success – last season, she ranked second in team scoring, averaging 11.1 points, along with providing 2.4 assists and 3.1 steals per game.
This year, she aims to build on that success while preparing for the transition to college basketball – a goal she has dreamed of since childhood.
“It’s been my dream since I was little,” Whited said. “I love the sport of basketball, and I love competing. Getting the opportunity to continue my basketball career would be amazing.”
High school athletes seek different ways to stand out from the rest of the crowd to be recruited to play at the college level and for Whited, she plans to stand out to scouts by highlighting her leadership on the court.
“I want to be focused on playing my role as point guard and doing my job to best benefit my teammates,” Whited said.
Whited’s journey has not been a solo effort. Her community has been a constant source of encouragement, influencing her to become a better player, and said her father and teammates have been her pillars of support.
“I got a lot of support from the community. My dad’s been huge for me. He’s pushed me every day and tried to get me to be the best I can be,” she said. “My teammates are constantly encouraging me and are such a positive team to have around me.
The support has driven her to set her sights higher – not just for herself but the entire Montezuma-Cortez girls basketball program.
“Last year, we definitely had a good standing for our girls basketball program, but I think this year it’s just making it even farther than we did last year,” Whited said. “We’re a group of girls that work really hard and are very passionate about this sport. We’re playing and practicing hard to get some wins and recognition for our team.”
This year presents new challenges for the anthers as they move into the 4A class division. Their 2024-2025 schedule includes competitions against 4A schools Alamosa and Pagosa Springs and 5A schools Durango and Montrose. Whited is confident in the team’s ability to rise to the occasion.
“We just need to keep working hard, staying focused, and do our job,” she said. “We’ll do fine.”
The Panthers will head to Aztec for the Rumble in the Jungle Invitational on Dec. 19-21. After the New Year, they will face the Lady Demons in an away game at Durango on Jan. 7, followed by the start of league play against Centauri in La Jara on Jan. 17.
