Julia Young | Snohomish, Sr.
After the 2010-2011 season Young was named to the second team of The Herald’s All-Area Girls Basketball team. Young, who averaged about 16 points per game, was also featured in a story discussing some of the most clutch players in the area. “Julia wants the ball and usually comes through with big shots in pressure situations. She is also a great free-throw shooter who is even better with the game on the line,” said Ken Roberts, the head coach of the Snohomish girls team. The 5-7 guard has also played varsity tennis for the past three seasons for the Panthers.
Madeline Kasper, | Edmonds-Woodway, Sr.
Kasper is a four-year starter for Edmonds-Woodway and was a big reason the Warriors were able to finish in the top eight of last year’s 4A state tournament. In a game against Kentwood, Kasper (twice) hit game-tying baskets to send the game into overtime and save her team’s season. With 34 seconds left in regulation she sunk a three-pointer to level the score for Edmonds-Woodway and then 27 seconds later ran the length of the court and got off a layup with no time remaining on the clock to force overtime, where the Warriors outscored Kentwood 7-2 to advance in the tournament. The senior captain was also named one of the 2011 State Basketball Sportsmanship Winners.
Katie Hawkins | Glacier Peak, Sr.
Hawkins, now a senior captain, is one of three players that remain from Glacier Peak’s inaugural season. She stepped up two years ago at the district tournament when Grizzlies’ star Marjorie Heard (who now plays at the University of Washington) was injured. “She helped carry us into the next year,” Glacier Peak head coach Brian Hill said. “Every game we went into we thought we could win, and Katie was a big part of that.” At 5-foot, 10-inches the Santa Clara-bound point guard is one of the tallest guards in the league. “I don’t know how many times you get a five-ten point guard,” Hill said. “She’s an incredible passer. She sees the floor so well. She really gets everybody involved offensively. …It’s good for me, bad for everyone else.”
Peyton Spencer | Granite Falls, Sr.
Last season Spencer averaged 18.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.3 assists per game. “She led the team in just about every offensive category last year,” Granite Falls head coach Mark Neuman said. An all-conference standout in volleyball, softball and basketball, Spencer has been a four-year starter, and has elevated her game to new heights each season. “She’s improved a ton since she was a freshman,” Neuman said. “Every year I think she’s gotten better and better in all areas of the game.” At 5-feet, 8-inches, Neuman says Spencer “can play any position on the floor. She plays post, wing and guard.” Neuman recalled a game last season where the Tigers trailed by 10 at halftime, and Spencer scored 25 points in the second half, including the two game-winning free throws with less than a second left on the clock to clinch the victory. “I don’t think I scored 25 in my entire career,” Neuman said.
Brittney Pahukoa | Lake Stevens, Jr.
The first player off the bench for Lake Stevens last year, Pahukoa will be taking over point guard duties for the Vikings this season. “She’s going to run our team and I think do a super job of that,” Lake Stevens head coach Randall Edens said. “She’s a really competitive individual. Whether its drills or something we’re doing in practice. She consistently wants to win and has that mentality.” A good source of that competition comes from her twin sister, Brooke, also a member of the Vikings’ squad. The two, who also run track in the spring, bring the best out of each other Edens says. “They’ll get after each other quite a bit. It almost gets to the point where they nitpick at each other a little…but certainly they’re very, very supportive of each other. It’s fun to be a part of and watch that dynamic between the two.”
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