It isn’t very often that a dominating low post player is asked to step out on the outside and handle the ball, but at small schools across the land changes have to be made to keep winning.

Goshen senior Ivia Pollard found herself in that exact situation prior to the start of this season, and the results have been more than impressive.

“In terms of a ball handler and perimeter player, she is up there on the list that I have been able to coach,” said Goshen head coach Jonathan Shedd. “She can do a lot of things well, and has skills that other players wish they had.”

Though she is a perimeter player, Pollard has no issue with driving to the basket.

After spending here past few seasons playing in the low post, Pollard has taken control of the Eagle offensive attack by playing guard.

Shedd said that Pollard was a little iffy in making the change to a perimeter player. But after some talks with Shedd, and the emergence of younger post players Hannah Styron and Katie Thomas, Pollard made the switch, and has not looked back.

“I told her that if she wanted to play college ball, she would have to do it as an outside player,” said Shedd. “You can’t play post at the next level at 5’9” or 5’10.” She made the swap, and it has helped her as a player and us as a team.”

Although she is not currently being recruited by a college, Pollard is exploring options to play basketball at the next level.

Pollard has been the Eagles leading scorer for the past two seasons, and is well on her way to doing it again this season.

Shedd said that Pollard is as confident in her outside shot as he is, but said that it will come with time.

“She doesn’t quite have the faith in her long-range shot as the rest of us, but she will get there,” said Shedd. “She is getting more and more confident with every shot she takes.”

The Goshen Eagles knocked off area foe New Brockton on Tuesday night, a game in which Pollard scored nearly half of Goshen’s points. The Eagles won 36-19, and Pollard scored 17 points.

With the area play providing the seeding for the tournament next month, Pollard will be a key cog in the offense and defense if the Eagles are able to host the tournament.

“The girls asked me how many games we had to win to hose the tournament,” Shedd said. “I told them ‘Win them all and we leave no doubt.”

Goshen’s area opponents include New Brockton, Zion Chapel and Elba.

The Eagles will make the short, 25-minute trip across the Coffee County line to battle Zion Chapel on Friday. Tip off for the key area matchup is set for 4:30 p.m.