They don’t get the glory of being in the starting lineup and hearing the public-address announcer shout their name during introductions.
Instead, they lurk on the bench, unsure exactly when their services will be needed yet always ready for action.
They bring something special – maybe
instant offense, unstoppable energy, inspiring hustle or intense defense – to the court and have the potential to instantly change a game.
These valuable but sometimes underappreciated basketball players are superb substitutes … Super Subs.
The Herald recently invited local high scho
ol basketball coaches to highlight their teams’ Super Subs. Here are the coaches’ choices and explanations:
GIRLS
Brittney Pahukoa, Lake Stevens
Guard | 5-7 | Soph. Key stat: 4.9 ppg.
Coach Randall Edens: Pahukoa “assumed the role for us off the bench to bring more energy to our team and provide any type of role for us we need moving forward. She has come up with timely steals, big baskets and has done a solid job at the point guard position when having been pressed into duty. Her ability to make plays on both ends of the floor classify her as a classic player you’d want coming into the game.”
Amia Nash, Edmonds-Woodway
Guard | 5-5 | Sr. Key stat: 4.3 ppg.
Coach Duane Hodges: “She is one of the fastest, if not the fastest, basketball players in the league. She usually enters the game when the opposition is subbing a guard, or when the opposition’s starters are beginning to tire. Amia’s goal is to accelerate the game, which she does easily. She also is a standout defender who can dog a player to frustration in man-to-man or cover extraordinarily large areas in our zone.”
Krista Showalter, Arlington
Guard | 5-7 | Soph. Key stats: 5.8 ppg, 2.0 spg, 1.8 apg, 60 percent on FGs.
Coach Nathan Davis: “Not only can she play all the guard positions – she brings awesome positive energy to the floor whether we need it defensively or offensively. She has become a player I can consistently count on to make a hustle play when we need it.”
Melissa Ruhlman, Shorecrest
Forward | 5-8 | Sr. Key stats: 2.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg.
Coach Dori Monson: “Melissa embodies everything a coach wants in a sixth man. She is selfless and a tenacious defensive player and rebounder. Melissa also brings a fantastic attitude to practice every single day.”
Julia Evans, Lakewood
Post | 5-10 | Jr. Key stat: 3.0 rpg.
Coach Chris Walster: “Her willingness to do whatever she’s asked makes her super for a coach. As a (first-year varsity) player who isn’t worried about scoring, it opens her up to focus on rebounding, defense and all of those dirty jobs that don’t show up in the newspaper very often.”
Courtney Young, Granite Falls
Guard | 5-3 | Soph. Key stats: 2.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.2 spg.
Coach Mark Neuman: “Courtney has moved back and forth between varsity and JV this year. Recently she came back as a full-time varsity player and has responded well. (During a recent stretch) of games she averaged 9.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals, and 2.0 assists.”
Arsenia Ivanov, Lynnwood
Wing | 5-7 | Soph. Key stats: 8.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 spg, nearly 40 percent on 3s.
Coach Everett Edwards: “In a earlier game this season against Glacier Peak, Arsenia went 6-for-8 from the 3-point line and finished with 21 points. She is an extremely hard worker on the defensive end of the court and brings a level of anticipation, effort and energy that makes her a special player.”
Emily Coacher, Jackson
Guard | 5-7 | Sr. Key stats: 3.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg.
Coach Jeannie Boyer: Coacher “is very versatile. She is a defensive stopper for us. She guards any position from point guard to post and has a nose for the ball. She is one of our best rebounders and seems to pull down a key rebound or get a key steal when we need it most.”
Brittany Lea, Mariner
Post | 5-10 | Soph. Key stats: 3.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.5 spg.
Coach Corey Gibb: “She provides instant athleticism, energy and height to our lineup. Brittany is a very hard worker and willing to do what she can to help out the team.”
Olivia VanDlac, Glacier Peak
Wing/Post | 5-11 | Sr. Key stats: 9.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg.
Coach Brian Hill: “Olivia has had many roles on our team and she has accepted all of them, and she continues to work hard to make contributions to the team. There are games where she starts and games where I use her off the bench. The games where she subs in, I know our intensity and offensive scoring increases. In those games she averages double digits in scoring. She is a great weapon from the wing, knocking down big 3-pointers, and is always a threat to drive.”
Alyssa Brazel, Monroe
Guard | 5-7 | Jr. Key stat: 6.8 ppg.
Coach Rodney Walker: A team co-captain, Brazel had been a starter but earlier this season she “became our super sub. Her new role would have been very difficult for a lesser person. However, Alyssa realized that her defensive commitment and quickness as well as her outside shooting could bring us a huge boost off our bench.”
Annie Leete, Oak Harbor
Guard | 5-5 | Fr. Key stat: 7.1 ppg.
Coach Trish Clayville: “She came off the bench (versus Mountlake Terrace) to score 20 points and hit the game-winning 3 with 1.1 seconds on the clock. She also played a great defensive game with several assists. Annie stepped up far beyond her years and played like a player with much more varsity experience.”
BOYS
Imaan Vicente, Kamiak
Wing | 6-5 | Soph. Key stats: 8.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 35 percent on 3s.
Coach Cory West: “Imaan started coming on strong as a freshman on varsity last season (but) a broken leg in May had him out all summer and fall. Now that his leg is fully healed, he has come on strong in this second half of the season, coming off the bench as our team’s third-leading scorer behind two three-year varsity players.”
Terry Dawn, Arlington
Guard | 6-2 | Soph. Key stats: 7.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg.
Coach Nick Brown: “Terry always brings a spark off the bench. As a sophomore, he plays extremely confident and loves the game. He can shoot the 3 as well as take players off the dribble. He is a great rebounder as well.”
Sam Brown, Jackson
Guard | 6-0 | Jr. Key stat: 4.8 ppg.
Coach Steve Johnson: Brown is “one of our best perimeter defenders” and “seems to have a knack for giving us what we need, when we need it: points, defense, ball-handling, etc.”
Carl Bunge, Monroe
Guard | 6-1 | Jr. Key stat: 4.9 ppg.
Coach Nick Wold: “Carl has been a standout sub for us the past two seasons. He has had double digits (points) three times this season with 10 points against Marysville-Pilchuck and 14 points against Snohomish and 15 points against Cascade with a clutch 3-pointer with less than 2 minutes to play. He leads our team in 3-point percentage, shooting 44 percent.”
Gabe Woods, Everett
Guard | 6-0 | Jr. Key stat: 6.5 ppg.
Coach Aaron Nations: “Gabe is able to come off the bench and bring defense or scoring. He gives us energy on the defensive end with his ability to guard his man baseline to baseline and he is able to get his shot when needed. But one of the best things he does when he’s on top of his game is get the other players involved.”
Dietrich Fenske, Granite Falls
Guard | 6-2 | Sr. Key stats: 2.9 ppg, nine charges taken.
Coach Steven Hume: A versatile player, Fenske “has been asked to play point, wing and post this year and has done well at all three positions.” After getting cut from the program last season, Fenske made the squad as a senior and “has made a remarkable turnaround.”
Alex Iverson, Lake Stevens
Forward | 6-1 | Sr.
Coach Mark Hein: Iverson has appeared in just six games for the Vikings this season and isn’t actually his team’s sixth man, but the positive senior “has been an invaluable member of our team. Alex doesn’t get to play much (but he) has been an amazing contributor to the team’s success. He is positive, provides a spark and energy at every practice, and has enthusiasm every single day. … Alex is an amazing example of what being ‘team first’ is all about and his teammates and coaches appreciate him very much for this.”
Austin Bennett, South Whidbey
Forward | 6-0 | Sr. Key stats: 3.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg.
Coach Henry Pope: Not a big scorer, Bennett’s best skills “are his defensive abilities. When he is in the game, he finds himself placed on a point guard one game, a post player in another game or a fast wing player. He comes into a game to shut down any player of the opponent that is having a good night when our starter is not getting the job done or needs a break.”
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam and follow Cane on Twitter at MikeCaneHerald.
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