Patch Performers: Jordan Morgan of Lake Shore High

's Jordan Morgan is easy to spot on the basketball court.

She's the one handling the ball, playing solid defense and making the game look much easier than it actually is.

A perfect example of this is when Morgan poured in 19 points in the and helped her Lady Shorians to the tournament title with a victory over crosstown rival, - and never had the smile leave her face.

But this season, there's more to the game for Morgan than fundamentals.

"My role has definitely changed on the team this year," Morgan said. "Coming up the last couple of years I never had to be that leader on the team. This year, being a captain, I've got to learn to be that leader. It's different, but I'm enjoying it."

The role is new, but the talented senior's ability on the floor is the same.

"She's 6-foot, very athletic and can handle the ball," Lake Shore coach Jimmy Roehm said. "Plus, we ask her about every game to guard the other team's best player. She's just a tremendous basketball player. Tremendous."

The basketball part comes naturally for the vivacious and up-beat Morgan - the intangibles of the game, however, require a lot more work.

"It is something I work on and think about," Morgan said. "I know my teammates are looking to me for that. I try to be more of a vocal leader when I have to be, but it's about the team. It's not about me going out there, scoring some points, and not paying attention to the team. It's about the team and what I have to do to make them better."

Lake Shore's off to a quick start, 5-0 overall as of Dec. 22, and Morgan's settling into her role, according to Roehm, and that's been a real asset to the Lady Shorians thus far. 

"She's learning to be that real leader as a senior this season," Roehm said. "Last year she was a great player for us, but we had a lot of seniors on the team so she never had to assume that role. This season is different. She's doing a great job though, and, more importantly, she seems to enjoy the role. She's having a lot of fun with it. I can see that everyday in practice. She gets frustrated sometimes, but she's learning to be the leader we need her to be."

In a division where not only Lake Shore is a legitimate contender for a crown, the Macomb Area Conference Gold, the intangibles of the game might be the difference.

"It's a tough division," Roehm said. "We've got a lot of very good teams in the Gold. It's going to be tough. But, we think we have a chance."

Lake Shore's Jordan Morgan is easy to spot on the basketball court.

She's the one handling the ball, playing solid defense and making the game look much easier than it actually is.

By the way, she's also the one leading the Lady Shorians - and she's making that look pretty easy too.