Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sara Harchuck Shadle Park Year: Shadle Park Sport: Basketball Position: Wing

The Shadle Park girls basketball season has been a little bit like a rollercoaster ride, a couple wins, a couple losses, a couple wins, a couple losses.

The same could be said for senior leader Sara Harchuck.

But when it came to the biggest game of the year, Harchuck was at her best.

Harchuck scored 15 points last week in a big win at University. The game was crucial for seeding purposes in the district tournament, which opens Tuesday with loser-out, winner-to-regional games.

“A lot of it was (coach Linda) Sheridan telling me how I have to do a lot of leading the team,” Harchuck said. “This was the game to determine the season. I had to take responsibility.”

Harchuck overcame foul trouble, sitting out much of the first half, and her own biggest critic.

“Sara is an outstanding player,” Sheridan said. “Her biggest fault is she is her own worst enemy… . She gets down on herself. I told her to play with joy, that’s why you’re playing the game. At end of her career, she’s starting to understand that.”

Just in time.

“I’m kind of a perfectionist… . I get frustrated easily,” Harchuck said. “I have to work at staying optimistic, staying positive. I’ve gotten a lot better at it.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo