For Mannford High School junior forward Adley Elliott, basketball is more than a game. It is her escape, her platform and her way to give back to the community that raised her. 

“My favorite part of Mannford Lady Pirates basketball is being able to escape everyday life and compete with my best friends,” Elliott said. “This team has truly created a home away from home for me.”

Elliott plays power forward and center for the Lady Pirates, where she leans on her biggest strength: rebounding on both ends of the floor. “My biggest strength is that I can get multiple rebounds on both offensive and defensive ends of the court,” she said.

As she prepares for her senior season, Elliott is focused on expanding her game and her leadership. “Transitioning into my senior year, I am focusing on filling a bigger role as a leader and becoming more confident in my outside shot as well as my ability to attack the rim from the perimeter,” she said.

Her inspiration starts at home. Elliott points to her mother as the model for how to handle adversity. “My mom inspires me because of her resilience,” she said. “I have always looked up to her because no matter the circumstance she leans into the trial and relies on God to navigate her steps.”

Elliott also shares the court with her younger sister, Ashlyn, an experience that has defined her high school career. “Me and Ashlyn are two years apart, so getting to share the floor with my built-in best friend last season made my junior year my favorite so far,” she said. “Ashlyn always encourages me when I am having a bad game and celebrates with me after the best wins.”

Off the court, Elliott stays busy with track and a slate of academic and leadership activities, including Leadership Council, Gifted and Talented, Student Council, Book Club and National Honor Society, and she serves as a class officer.

She hopes her time in a Mannford jersey inspires the next wave of Lady Pirates. “I love wearing a Mannford jersey on game days knowing that I am now someone younger girls can look up to like I did when I was their age,” she said.

After graduation, Elliott plans to continue her education and pursue a career as either a physical therapist or a speech pathologist.