Sports Spotlight: Sarah Placide | Observer Preps

At 6-foot-1, West Orange forward Sarah Placide is a great asset to the girls basketball team. The senior is a captain on the team and recently committed to play at Daytona State. Placide also was selected as the player of the game in the Warriors’ matchup against Oxbridge Academy Saturday, Jan. 5. 

Why did you start playing basketball?

My height, for one thing. Everyone always said, “Oh you’re so tall, you should play basketball,” so I gave it a shot in sixth grade, and I’ve been playing since. It’s fun, and it’s motivation for me to get a scholarship in basketball, which I did.

What’s the team like for you this year?

Right now our team — we’re good, we work as a team, but sometimes we might not work as a team, and it shows. We know we have to play together to win, and we’ve been winning.

Has there been a game this season that’s stuck out to you?

One game that stuck out to me the most was this school in Miami, and that was one of our hardest teams. We came out with the win for that one.

How do you prepare for a game?

I either listen to music, or when I’m with my team, I’m focusing on me at the time and I’m in the zone.

You recently committed to play for Daytona State. What drew you there?

The atmosphere, how they’re not just focused on basketball, but they’re focused on the education part, too. They have people who help you constantly focus on your education, and basketball, too.

Who is your funniest teammate?

It depends on the day. Our point guard Mo (Morgan Beacham) — she’s the one who gets us hype on game day. She’s dancing, going around and stuff. She’s fun.

How are you preparing to go from high school to college basketball?

I’m just trying to stay in the gym and stay focused on my grades, because I know it’s not over yet.

What kind of music do you listen to?

I listen to rap or hip-hop. My favorite artist is Kodak Black, I really like Kodak Black.

What’s your favorite class?

I would say my art class, because it’s where I can be creative. Math is always fun, too, when you’re getting it right.

Have you watched anything good on Netflix recently?

I just finished watching “Bird Box.” Everyone’s talking about that, and that was a good movie. That was the last movie I watched on Netflix.