The sophomore point guard was the unanimous choice for Inter-Ac Girls Basketball Most Valuable Player this winter, averaging 16 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg and 2 spg. She scored a career-high 33 points against the Perkiomen School in the quarterfinals of the Independent School state tournament. The daughter of former major league catcher Ben Davis, she is a multi-sport athlete at Academy of Notre Dame (she also plays lacrosse). Academy of Notre Dame basketball head coach Terry Mancini said, “Riley this year became a force to be reckoned with. She is mature beyond her years and will eventually be a leader of this program. Her drive and competitiveness is off the charts. She is a true warrior that will do whatever is needed to help her team win. The scary part is that she hasn’t even scratched the surface of how good she can become.”
Q: Riley, what does it mean to you to win the Inter-Ac Most Valuable Player award?
A: Winning the Inter-Ac MVP award was definitely one of my goals coming into Notre Dame, so getting it in my sophomore year is super cool to me. By having this achievement, I couldn’t have done it without my parents, coaches and teammates, as they have helped me become better each and every day. This helps me stay motivated for the next years to come.
Q: As a multi-sport athlete, what advantages do you think being a multi-sport athlete offers, as compared to a student-athlete who just focuses on one sport?
A: I think being a multi-sport athlete helps with court/field awareness, becoming a leader, and improves my hand-eye coordination. My role on every team is different, so it can help me adapt to different situations in each sport.
Q: When you scored 33 points in the PAISAA quarterfinal against Perkiomen School, what do you think were the biggest keys to your prolific scoring in that game?
A: As I started the game I realized how little time we had left to play as a team playing in the state quarterfinals, so the biggest keys to that game was just having fun. I wanted the season to last as long as possible so I just gave everything I had. Being super intense the entire game led me into scoring those points, and my teammates helped me out with that.
Q: What aspect(s) of your game were you working on most during this just-completed season?
A: Having a strong mental part in this game, because if you think negatively, you will play negatively. I would always just try and keep my head up and continue with the season even if we took a loss or I didn’t play how I wanted to. Another thing is being comfortable with the ball in my hands as I took the role of being point guard — I knew I couldn’t shy away from the ball.
Q: What was your most memorable experience with the Notre Dame basketball team this season?
A: Going to Charleston was definitely the most memorable experience this season. We became super close and had a great time as we went 3-0 and this is when we realized we can do well in the season while we are having fun doing it.
Q: You averaged two steals per game — what in your opinion is the biggest key(s) to playing effective defense?
A: Communication is a big factor in defense and our team was really good at it. We all trusted each other so this led us to success in our defense. Staying super intense also helped me.
Q: Your father Ben was a former major league catcher and your mom Megan was a standout athlete at Sun Valley High School and Rutgers University. What do you think are the most important things you have learned from them (on and off the court/field of play)?
A: Work ethic, doing your best, and making sure I am enjoying what I am doing even when things are hard.
Fun facts – Riley Davis
Favorite book: The Hunger Games.
Favorite author: Colleen Hoover.
Favorite class at Notre Dame: Math.
Favorite TV show: Suits.
Favorite movie: Interstellar.
Favorite athlete: Caitlin Clark.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Rocketeer.
Favorite team: Phillies, Eagles.
Favorite place to visit: Florida.
Favorite pre-game meal: Apples, Wawa pretzel, and vitamin water.
Person I most admire, and why: “My mom because she inspires me to work hard every day to become the best version of myself.”
Family members: parents Ben and Megan, brothers Tague and Sean, sister Finley, dog Slider (a goldendoodle).
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
To view a gallery of the previous Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week click here
