LIBERTY LAKE, Wash. — Seven freshmen fill the Ridgeline High School girls basketball roster, but it’s the leadership of three veteran players that has helped the Falcons thrive this season.
Head Coach Freddie Rehkow said the team’s leaders each take a different approach.
“We kind of expected Grace and Madi to be those on court leaders, for sure,” he said. “And then Kate, she’s just taken the freshmen under her wing. So she does a lot of more the behind-the-scenes mentoring, helping those freshmen through some of their struggles.”
The Falcons’ leadership roles don’t just show up on the scoreboard. The team dedicates time each week to mental training.
“We actually take one day, probably about a half hour every week to go in and do mental training and we’ve been working together on a book study,” Rehkow said. “The twin thieves, which are the fear of judgment and the fear of failure.”
For senior Kate Taylor, that focus on the mental side of the game is her primary contribution.
“I’m really happy that I got a chance to play with them this year and get so close to them,” Taylor said. “The opportunity to lead them on the court and show them how to grow as basketball players and as people is super important. I’m just really grateful that I get the opportunity to do that this year.”
That guidance has helped the Falcons on the court as well. Junior Grace Sheridan, the GSL’s second-leading scorer, said trust among teammates fuels their performance.
“We all are pretty close off the court, so it makes it easier to play and trust each other on the court,” Sheridan said. “Seeing each other put in the work too and knowing how hard everybody’s working so we can trust it in the game.”
Senior Madi Crowley, the GSL’s top scorer, has also played a key role in Ridgeline’s success. Crowley said the season has been a meaningful way to close her high school basketball career, she will continue her athletic journey at Michigan State University in rowing.
“I couldn’t ask for a better way to end my high school and basketball career,” Crowley said. “This team is amazing, and the coaches are great, obviously sad not playing basketball anymore, but this is a great way to go out.”
Ridgeline’s approach both on and off the court, has guided a young roster as the team continues to grow and push toward its full potential.
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