Rogozinski Gets Better Through AAU Battles

Stockbridge High School basketball player Gwen Rogozinski (4) drives past a Leslie High School player during a game Tuesday at LHS.  Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

Stockbridge High School basketball player Gwen Rogozinski was getting tired of getting her shot blocked nearly all the time by her AAU teammate.

So instead of complaining, she got better and smarter learning to be creative in her shot making.

The teammate is Grass Lake’s Lexus Bargesser – a Division 1 prospect who plays with Rogozinski on the Michigan Premier Basketball AAU team in Jackson. 

At the high school level, she is making all the right moves.

Rogozinski just went over the 1,000-point mark in a career for the Panthers and most certainly will break the school record for most all-time points. She also holds the school record for 3-point baskets in a game (8) and points in a game (42).

But during the summer, Rogozinski spends a lot of time against high-level competition.

“Gwen sees the benefits she gets out of playing at that level,” SHS Coach Mike Dalton said. “The difference is she doesn’t complain about not getting a lot of playing time.”

Rogozinski switched to Premier – under the direction of Grass Lake coach and Club Director Andrea Cabana – during her freshman year. The group has a number of the top players in Jackson County on the AAU travel team.

“I didn’t play much on my AAU team, but being around those girls and guarding Lexi (Bargesser) and some of the other players has made me so much better as a player,” Rogozinski said. “On offence I had to learn to score in different ways because Lexi would block everything.”

At the high school level, not too many people are blocking Rogozinski. She has averaged more than 20 points a game and is leading the Panthers to a solid season at 13-2. They will play Olivet on Thursday for the conference title.

Rogozinski has been playing travel basketball since third grade. She loves the sport and the way it makes here fee.

“I have a passion for basketball,” Rogozinski said. “It is like therapy when you go out there … playing and not thinking about anything else in the world.”

The junior got off to a slow start on Tuesday against their rivals from Leslie. Dana Coltrain of Leslie was sticking to Rogozinski like glue nearly the entire game.

“I know I can’t let that get into my head,” Rogozinski said of the defender playing nose to nose. “I have to do the little things and work harder than she does.”

She finished with 18 points, three assists, and two rebounds in a 53-39 win over Leslie.