Cunningham leads Rock Bridge girls basketball to victory over Rolla

COLUMBIA — When guarding her opponent, Lindsey Cunningham stands, knees bent, eyes bright with intensity. It’s almost as if she could stop them with just her gaze.

Cunningham, a junior, brings the same intensity she uses as a point guard to her leadership role as co-captain for the Rock Bridge girls basketball team.

“When things get going crazy, it’s my job to keep everything under control,” Cunningham said.

Before free throws, she made a point to high-five every one of her teammates on the court. At the start of a timeout during the third quarter, she hopped off the bench, arms outstretched to slap hands with her teammates coming into the huddle.

“As a point guard, she’s the coach’s right-hand person,” Bruins coach Jill Nagel said. “She sets the tone for us.”

When Rock Bridge missed a basket but retained control of the ball, Cunningham urged on her teammates, clapping her hands and yelling, “Let’s go! Let’s go!”

Cunningham chalked up 14 points for the Bruins and dished out nine assists Thursday night in Rock Bridge’s 63-43 win over visiting Rolla.

Nagel explained how Cunningham and senior guard Allison Marshall were both voted co-captains at the start of the season by their teammates. 

“She has the respect of her peers,” Nagel said.

After every timeout, Cunningham gathered her teammates around her to talk to them, creating both focus and excitement.

“If I can get us going, that can spark other people, and we’ll all get fired up,” Cunningham said.

With a powerful offensive performance by the Bruins, Cunningham’s spark spread to the entire team. After defeating Rolla, the Bruins are now 3-0 on the season.

“I’m really excited,” Cunningham said. “I think we’re only going to get better.”