Tigers’ Foster stands tall

Looks can be deceiving.

Look at Napavine during warmups and the big girl appears to be a force to be reckoned with.

Look at the Tigers’ bench during introductions and see 6-foot junior Jadyn Foster standing with the reserves.

Look in the State 2B girls basketball program and discover Foster averages a modest 3.5 points a game.

Look at the box score after Napavine turned back Reardan 46-35 in the quarterfinals Thursday evening and wonder what is going on.

“Jadyn Foster, in the last three weeks, has probably made the biggest impact,” Napavine coach Shane Schutz said. “She struggled early. She was only getting maybe 6 or 7 minutes because her focus was on offense. I told her the minutes would go up if she focused on defense.

“She’s 6-foot, her arms make her about 6-5, and if you’re not used to that it’s tough. She did a great job tonight.”

Foster got her chance early when 5-9 forward Ali Brossard, one of three Tigers (22-5) to average nine points in their four-guard offense, picked up two quick fouls. Her impact on offense was again modest, just five points, but defense was another matter.

Foster, officially credited with four rebounds and a blocked shot, had a game-high nine boards and five blocks, according to team stats, and changed the perception of one coach.

“We looked at the numbers – she averaged 3½ points a game,” Reardan coach Tiger Peone said. “We scouted the first game here and she was much more of a factor than what the program showed. She must have had five blocks. You get a big like that and they alter shots. We’re used to going to the hole. We have good guards, and then you have a 6-footer down there.”

The Indians (22-5) knocked down a couple of 3-pointers in racing to a 12-2 lead and added another before the first quarter ended at 15-11. But that was pretty much the high-water mark.

“We just stayed with what we planned,” Schutz said. “We knew they were going to make runs. Basketball is a game of runs. We said stick with the game plan, we know they made a couple of 3s, but their legs are going to give. That’s what we were pushing for – their legs were going to get tired … they’re young kids, freshmen.”

Reardan shot 6 of 13 in the first quarter and ended up 12 of 35, including just 18 percent in the second half.

“We shot real well in the first quarter from the perimeter,” Peone said. “It started to go south in the second quarter on and we just couldn’t make the adjustments to try to get an inside game.”

And it was obvious Foster, who played a team-high 27 minutes, was a big factor.

“The key to my defense is I wasn’t staying on my feet. I was jumping because I love to swat them,” Foster said. “If I stay on my feet, they can’t shoot over me. Listen to your coach.”

Kelsey Moos led Reardan with 15 points but the 5-8 freshman was just 3 of 12 from the field. Two of those baskets were the first five points of the game for the Indians, and she finished 8 of 14 from the foul line.