ROCHELLE — Zoey Tabor loves playing basketball, and her passion for the sport was what made losing nearly her entire sophomore season with the Lady Hubs even more difficult.

Tabor showcased her talents shortly after arriving at Rochelle Township High School, earning a starting role as a guard for the varsity basketball team during her freshman season. Tabor had been preparing for a breakout sophomore year, but hip issues unfortunately sidelined her for nearly the entire 2019-20 season. As Tabor works her way back to full health, she said she’s taking what she’s learned over the last two years and building toward a strong junior season.

“I’ve tried being a vocal leader for the team,” Tabor said. “Even though I was younger than most girls, I felt knowledgeable enough to help others. I feel that I will continue to have that role for the rest of my career because I’ve been able to learn and understand the game more. I was very frustrated to lose my sophomore season. I love the game, and I felt like I was letting my team down, which was a worse feeling... I feel that I’ve played decently well with the varsity team. I really want to improve my shot and work on my ball handling so I can drive and finish strong.”

Tabor will be an important returner in the Rochelle backcourt for when the Lady Hubs eventually take the court next season. Her 15-point effort helped boost Rochelle to a win over Indian Creek, one of the team’s five victories this past year, while her freshman season was highlighted by earning an All-Conference Honorable Mention from the Northern Illinois Big 12.

In addition to her talents on the basketball court, Tabor has also earned a varsity role with the Lady Hub volleyball team, splitting time with the sophomore and varsity teams as a defensive specialist this past year. Tabor said she attended Hub Power over the summer and participated in open gyms with the basketball and volleyball teams to stay active during the fall. With many activities currently shut down, Tabor said she’s been exercising at Anytime Fitness and going on runs so she can stay in shape for when the Rochelle athletic programs can resume activities.

“I thought I played pretty well considering I hadn’t played that position before,” Tabor said. “I thought I gave my all during the season. I want to be quicker on the court, I want to improve my accuracy with my passes and I want to be able to swing from the back row. I thought my role last year was to learn as much as I could and give my all. I think I will be more of a leader this year because, thanks to my coaches, I have learned a lot more about the sport.”