Hatrock Does Justice To Self Guard Hits Stride For Timberwolves

Lake City High point guard Katie Hatrock and her coach, Dave Stockwell, have a lot in common.

Both stepped into jobs last year with weighty expectations, not to mention large shoes to fill.

Stockwell took over for Dave Fealko, who led five teams to state championships in a storied career.

Hatrock took over for Jennifer Kerns, a three-year starter who played on two state title teams and accepted a scholarship at Washington State University.

Stockwell didn’t help Hatrock’s transition, though, when he stopped just short of saying that she would make people forget about Kerns.

Hatrock is no Kerns. But as Stockwell has discovered this season, Hatrock is just fine being herself.

“I put a lot of undue pressure on her last season,” said Stockwell, whose Timberwolves (20-3 overall) open play in the State A-1 Tournament today against Eagle (16-7) of Meridian. Tipoff is at 12:45 p.m. PST at the Idaho Center in Nampa.

“I told her it was her team, but I don’t think she was ready for that,” Stockwell added. “I handcuffed her.”

Hatrock admitted she didn’t play as well as she expected.

“I played real timid (last year), maybe through all the season,” Hatrock said. “I probably tried too hard.”

The year before, as a sophomore behind Kerns, Hatrock emerged at the state tournament when she keyed a victory by hitting 5 of 5 3-pointers in LC’s state title season.

Kerns and former LC player Nicole Nipp started calling Hatrock “Money” immediately after her state heroics, and the nickname stuck.

Her 3-point shooting accuracy returned the last half of this season, and she’s been anything but timid.

Good or bad, she displays her emotions when she makes an assist or is called for a foul. It’s both an extension of her personality and an expression of her leadership. She’s the lone senior in the starting lineup and one of two on the team.

“It’s my team,” Hatrock said, smiling. “I’m very comfortable knowing that.”

During LC’s final regular-season game at home, Hatrock dropped to her belly and kissed the hardwood at midcourt when Stockwell pulled her out in the closing minutes.

“I’ve got a lot of memories here,” she said.

The 5-foot-6 Hatrock - whose most glaring physical liability is speed - has averaged 10 points, five assists and four steals per game. More important, though, is she’s been responsible for getting the other four starters and reserves involved in the offense.

She’s accomplished that task with high grades.

“Everything starts with your point guard,” Stockwell said. “And Katie could start for every team in the state.”

Because she doesn’t possess the catlike quickness or athleticism of a Kerns, Hatrock hasn’t received much attention from college coaches.

She’s hoping a solid showing at state will open some college doors.

The team will come first, though.

“I have three games left. It’s all or nothing, and that really motivates me,” Hatrock said. “All I’ve been dreaming about is winning state and holding my arms up (in celebration).

“The key is we have to play with our hearts and play with our heads. This team deserves a state championship with the amount of work we’ve put in. We just have to relax and play.”

Notes

In the other half of top-ranked LC’s bracket, Madison (21-5) takes on Nampa (14-11), one of four Boise-area teams to qualify for state.

In the other bracket, No. 2-ranked Borah (20-3) meets Bonneville (15-10) and Highland (21-3) goes against defending state champion Centennial (16-8).

LC beat Eagle earlier in the season, 55-45, at Eagle. On the same road trip, LC beat Centennial 55-40.

During opening-weekend play, LC knocked off Borah in overtime, 52-46, at LC.

LC fans know about the T-Wolves standouts - Hatrock, Lindsay Herbert and Alison Asher - but it’s been the development of the supporting cast that will be key to LC winning a state title.

Laura Dodge, Katie Hawn, Marni Hayes, Kelley McCabe and Jamie Coles have given Stockwell more flexibility in the lineup than initially expected. Dodge, who starts opposite Asher at the other post/wing, has averaged 8.5 points and five rebounds.

When LC lost starter Heather Stetson to a knee injury in December, Hawn was inserted into the lineup. Her presence was immediately noticed, particularly her quickness.

And McCabe, Hayes and Coles combined for 164 points off the bench.

So, can the T-Wolves win a second state crown in three years? Their coach thinks so.

“If we play well it’ll take a very good team to beat us,” Stockwell said. “If we win our first game I like our chances of getting to the championship game.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo