Chip off the Block
Lauren 'Coach G' Galvani
You have often heard the old expression, 'like father like son,' but for Lauren Lewis Galvani, we can actually say, 'like father like daughter. Coach Galvani is the daughter of highly successful high school boys' varsity basketball coach Duane Lewis of North Mecklenburg. Known has 'Coach G' by her players at Independence High School, it's easy to see the similarities between the two. For Lauren Lewis Galvani, she has learned the game of basketball by being her dad's 'sidekick.' Lauren has grown up in the gym at North Mecklenburg. She attended practices, scrimmages and countless games throughout her childhood and was able to enthusiastically cheer on her dad and North Mecklenburg High School to the NCHSAA 4A state championship game during the 2004-05 season and to see them finish runner-up the following season.
As she grew older, Lauren not only continued to attend practices and open gyms, but she was a willing participant as well. Throughout her high school career, she would venture into the gym at North Meck to play pick up with the boys. As he entered high school, Lauren played softball and basketball and earned a scholarship to play at Catawba College. After two years at Catawba, Lauren transferred to Lees McRae where she finished out her playing career and graduating in 2014. After graduation, Lauren become a grad assistant for one year and in 2015 Lauren was named the girls' varsity head coach at Independence High School.
Coming into the 2015-16 basketball season, Lauren was fresh out of college and inherited a girls' basketball program that hasn't had a winning season since 2008-09 season. As a matter of fact, her first year at Independence, the girls' basketball team had endured a 63-game losing streak. Eventually, Independence won one game and ended the dreadful losing streak only to finish with a 1-22 record. Patience and learning to overcome adversity were often in the conversations when she reached out to dad and mentor on many occasions. Her dad, coach Duane Lewis, has enjoyed a stellar career at North Mecklenburg High School where he has won over 400 career games, won the NCHSAA 4A state championship and year in and year out is regarded as one of the top high school coaches in the state.
In her second year at Independence, Coach G led the team to win nine games; with year three producing an amazing and yes, impressive 15 game winning season and made the first winning season for the girls since 2008-09. Last year, Independence won 11 games and if you average the past three seasons, Coach G has literally turned the program around averaging 11 games per season playing in one of the toughest conferences in the state, the Southwestern NCHSAA 4A. Now, entering her fifth season at the helm of the girl's program, Coach G has her sights on making the state playoffs. This year's team returns senior Ayanna Anderson. Last season, Anderson averaged eight points and eight rebounds per game and will be a huge factor in their success this season. The articulate and well-spoken Anderson is receiving high interest from Cape Fear, Johnson and Wales, Clinton College, and Wake Tech. More importantly, Anderson will provide valuable leadership and will be the team's glue to a successful run at the state playoffs.
Independence's 'go to' player will be 5'11 junior combo guard Braylyn Milton, younger sister of former Independence star Raja Milton who is now playing at Louisburg College. Milton averaged 17 PPG last year as a sophomore and has already collected 10 D1 offers. Coach G stated, 'Milton has great court vision and IQ for a slender and lengthy guard. She is a knockdown shooter and consistent 3-level scorer and she is the catalyst in helping Independence to their first playoff appearance in 10 years.'
Coach G has benefited from a few new transfer players that should give her additional skill and depth, especially in the backcourt. 2020 combo guard Trinity Thompson was an All-Conference player at Harding and scored her 1000th career point last season as a junior. Coach G stated, 'Thompson is a great ball handler and can consistently get to the basketball. She is a strong and scrappy guard who has the ability to score the ball. Rounding out the group will be 2021 Averie DiBenedetto who is a crafty point guard, who also has excellent court vision. 6'2 center Gracie Breckenridge is a strong presence in the paint, but also has good court vision and feel for the game. Last year, she averaged five points per game and six rebounds per game.
For Coach G, she has changed the culture around the girls' basketball program and has them on the verge of their first legitimate opportunity at making the state playoffs in over a decade. She has learned and grown a lot as a head coach in a very short period of time, but one thing is for certain, Coach G was born to be a high school basketball coach. It's in her blood, her DNA and she has learned first-hand from one of the top coaches in the state, her dad and mentor Coach Duane Lewis.
