Van Buren Eaglettes Basketball Player Cara Mills said she has one clear focus in her senior season: dominante the post.
Fresh off the first state championship appearance in school history, Mills returns as the centerpiece of an Eaglettes squad that knows exactly what it takes to compete with the best in Tennessee. During last season’s run to Murfreesboro, the 6-foot-3 post averaged nearly 20 points and 10 rebounds per game at the state tournament, anchoring Van Buren’s interior on both ends of the floor.
“I played against some of the best in the state so, and we won so I should be able to play against about anybody,” Mills said. “Just remembering that we got that far in state and we can all play against the best, like we need to dominate throughout the season.”
Mills enters her senior year with a historic resume. She has surpassed 1,000 career points, delivered multiple high-scoring, double-digit rebounding performances that has led Mills to average a double-double throughout her career at Van Buren, and emerged as a consistent force in the paint for a program that has reached the state tournament three times in the past four seasons.
Perhaps most dangerous for opponents this year is continuity. Van Buren returns its entire starting lineup, giving the Eaglettes experience, chemistry and confidence from day one.
“It’s been so fun,” Mills said. “It’s like nonstop just being with the team and just like growing together. We never had time off and that was the best thing for us.”
Mills said that constant togetherness has fueled Van Buren’s rise and strengthened a bond between the team and its supporters. In a small community where basketball takes center stage, Mills said the backing never wavers.
“Basketball is our main sport in Van Buren,” Mills said. “Everyone supports basketball a lot so the community is always there for us.”
Mills said basketball has always been part of her life. From youth leagues to backyard games with family, Mills said she has always had a ball in her hands.
Now, with expectations higher than ever, Van Buren sets its sights on another deep postseason run. A return trip to the state tournament would mark the fourth appearance in five seasons.
