Her Name Is Rio

Freshman Rio Dudgeon has a wicked weapon in her arsenal—the three-point shot.

The standout set a school girls basketball record with eight three-point baskets in a single game on Feb. 1 against Anchor Bay.

“Rio has one of the best outside shots of anyone I have worked with,” said Dakota coach Phil McCune. “She also does a great job of blocking shots without fouling the shooter.”

Most recently, Dudgeon led the Cougars in scoring in their 62-54 victory over Romeo on Feb. 8 with 12 points on four three-pointers.

“Rio is what I call a basketball junkie,” McCune said. “She has a passion for the game that you just don't see from many players. She loves the game of basketball.”

Dudgeon works hard in practice and on her own time to sharpen her skills and polish her specialty shot.

"Rio has proved in practice every day that she has the ability to take a game over,” McCune said. “As a 14-year-old freshman this year, I knew that with patience Rio would be a very special player in our program. Her consistency has steadily improved each and every game and her potential is limitless. It's not always easy for a freshman to make the adjustment to varsity basketball, but Rio has done an outstanding job of understanding her role with our team and I'm extremely proud of her.”

Dudgeon is definitely one to watch in the years to come.

"Rio is also a very funny person who can put a smile on anyone’s face after a long day,” McCune said. “One of our warm-up songs before our games is 'Rio' by Duran Duran. She always has a good laugh when she hears it.”

Take Five with Rio Dudgeon

1. What's the newest song on your iPod?
   The newest song on my iPod is "More" by Usher.
2. Who is your favorite teacher at Dakota and why?
   My favorite teacher is Mr. Misuraca because he makes learning fun and wants all the kids to do well. He is very helpful in the classroom.
3. What are your hobbies off the basketball court?
   Almost every Saturday and Sunday I train with Greg Grant, who I play my AAU season for. I like hanging out with my friends and going to the show.
4. What are three words that best describe you?
   Respectful, thoughtful and friendly
5. How often do you practice three-point shots? Is that your specialty?
   Yes, three-pointers are my specialty. I practice them every day and in the summertime you can usually find me on my driveway practicing my shot!