It does seem that fate dictated Peek play her final regular-season game not only close to home where friends and family can watch her play, but also at a spot where she started her career.
"The team camp at Eastern Kentucky was the very first team camp that Cassandra attended," her mother said. "As a third-grader, she was literally adopted by the Lincoln County High School team as their little sister. These players supported her for her entire athletic career."
Who wouldn't support her? Not only is she as likable as any player you will ever find, but she's also an enjoyable player to watch play because she plays the game the way it should be played. She's efficient, not flashy. She's team-oriented. She plays hard. She's only 5-5, but she plays bigger because she understands how to play. Give her the choice of making a pass that leads to a score or scoring herself and she'll take the assist every time.
She's played in 117 games
She's had a career at Austin Peay that has included three NCAA Tournament appearances. She's sixth all-time in assists with 320 and sixth in 3-pointers made (102). She's played in 117 games, a Chuck Hayes-like number.
This year Peek is averaging 6.5 points and 3.8 assists (third best in the OVC) per game. She also has the fifth-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the conference.
In her final home game, she had a Peek-like game with 11 points, four assists and one steal in 30 minutes. She was 5-for-5 at the foul line.
It's no wonder teammates like playing with her.
"She plays with a lot of heart, and she's always going to play with 100 percent every time she takes the floor," Austin Peay guard Kera Bergeron told The Leaf Chronicle in Clarksville, Tenn. "She does her job. She plays within her role and doesn't try to do too much personally for individual stuff."
What better compliment could a teammate ever give?
Lincoln fans thanked
It's also why Peek's mother sent word that her daughter would like to "thank all fans from Lincoln county for their support and encouragement" during her basketball career.
Those fans may have one more chance to support Peek, too. She's been invited to play for a summer team that will spend two weeks in Africa not only teaching basketball skills, but also conducting Bible school for youngsters.
"Whether or not Cassandra gets to go to Africa is still pending due to commitment dates and costs for the trip," Jayne Peek said.
Hopefully everything will work for the trip because that would enable her to share the same skills and traits we've enjoyed so much here the last 10 years with a whole new audience that certainly would appreciate her as much as we have.
Austin Peay plays Eastern Kentucky Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
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