Crystal Lee Central Valley Year: Junior Sport: Basketball Position: Forward

Crystal Lee is proving last year was no accident.

The 5-foot-10 forward set a sophomore scoring record at Central Valley last year and, for an encore, has opened up this season by scoring more than 20 points in the Bears’ first four games.

“She’s capable of doing that sort of thing,” CV coach Dale Poffenroth said. “It’s not a surprise.”

“I just played hard,” she said. “Just as long as we’re winning, I don’t care.”Lee scored 26 points as the Bears started the Greater

Spokane League schedule with a 76-40 win over Lewis and Clark to go 4-0 on the season.

“If someone is more open, I’ll give them the ball,” said Lee, who is averaging 25 points per game. “I guess I’m needed to score, but we all need to work on rebounding.”

Though Lee isn’t as tall as some of the big scorers in CV’s record book, she has an advantage.

“She has a good supporting cast,” Poffenroth said. “She has guards - not a guard - who can get her the ball, so it’s not coming from one place.”

Despite being the biggest Bear, Lee can run the floor and shoot the 3. She also knows, though, she is needed inside.

“I know I need to get in and rebound,” Lee said. “We need all five players to rebound since we’re the shortest team in the league.”

So, far, they’re also the highest scoring. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo