Laura Dodge Lake City Year: Junior Sport: Basketball Position: Wing

Laura Dodge tried to, uh, well, dodge the questions.

What’s been your best game this season?

“Um, uh … um … I don’t think I’ve had one,” she finally said.

What’s been the team’s best game?

“Um, uh … um … I don’t think we’ve had one,” she allowed.

What Dodge won’t tell you is she’s been one of the most consistent players on the Lake City Timberwolves, who completed regular-season play at 20-0.

So something doesn’t add up here. It’s obvious Dodge has played well and so has the team. A team doesn’t go undefeated by accident.

Dodge scored a team-high 19 points to lead LC to the Border League-clinching victory over Cheney last week and made 7 of 9 shots for 15 points in a 59-41 win at Clarkston last Saturday.

“People always tell me I’m my worst critic,” said Dodge, who carries a 4.0 grade-point average. “I’m such a perfectionist. I always expect myself and the team to do much better.

“I’ve had moments when I’ve played well. As a team we’ve had moments where we’ve played well. But I can’t say that I’ve had a great game.”

Her coach, Dave Stockwell, also has high standards. But he’s pleased with Dodge’s play this season, especially with her adjustment from post to wing.

“Every night she comes out and gives us the same consistent job,” Stockwell said. “Rarely has she had a bad game this year. She’s very versatile. We have the luxury of putting her inside or outside.”

She averaged 10.2 points per game during the regular season, third-best on the team. Her 40-percent accuracy from 3-point range is tops. “She’s our second-best outside shooter overall,” Stockwell said.

But the 6-foot Dodge says she has much room for improvement.

“I’m still not the best wing around,” she said. “I’m like a post in disguise. I pretend to be a wing. My problem is my dribbling isn’t very good.”

Like older sister Melissa, Dodge has been on varsity since her freshman year.

She would like to do something three of her sister’s teams did: win a state championship.

Who’s the better player?

“We are two totally different players,” Laura said. “I’ve never actually thought about it. The thing I want that she has is a state championship. I’ve been to state like she has, but I haven’t had the same feeling. That’s what I want.”

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