‘Basketball is my favorite sport’

Jackie Rouse is just glad to be out there.

The West Valley senior is an integral part of the school’s girls basketball team – a program that has seen more than its share of turnover the past three seasons.

In Rouse’s four years at the school, she’s had three different basketball coaches – a new one for each of the past three season. Not surprisingly, the team has had as many wins as coaches the past three seasons.

“It’s been tough,” she explained. “It’s like starting all over again each season.

“I’ve liked every one of our coaches and I’ve enjoyed playing for all of them and I’ve learned from each one of them. But it’s tough starting all over with each one. They all have different ways of doing things and it takes time to learn that.”

One of the things you expect as a basketball player is the chance to build each year on the things you learned the year before.

That hasn’t happened at West Valley.

“We haven’t gotten to the point yet where we’re on the same page,” new coach Jamie Pancho said. “We’re getting there, day by day. We’re working hard.

“One thing I’ve learned is that I had started to take that history for granted – we just don’t have that history together to draw on. It’s made me be more detailed in my coaching plan and in what I do as a coach, how I explain things.”

Pancho led Priest River to the Idaho 3A finals twice and built a 115-51 record in seven seasons.

Rouse enjoys Pancho’s positive attitude.

“I like that he keeps focused on the positive things we do,” she said. “We keep working on having more of them.”

For Rouse, it’s all about the game.

“Basketball is my favorite sport, and I just love going out there and playing games,” she said.

That’s an attitude Pancho appreciates.

“Jackie takes great pride in West Valley athletics, and I think she’s trying to figure out how to be a good leader on this basketball team right now,” Pancho said. “Every program you go to, there’s a kid like Jackie around, and that’s one of the pleasures of coaching. I’m just glad that, in my first year, she’s there.

“She’s a silent leader. She’s not someone who’s going to yell in the huddle. She works hard every practice; she plays hard every game. And she’s one of the most coachable kids I’ve ever been around.”

So far, the Eagles have struggled finding their equilibrium in the tough Greater Spokane League – taking an 0-6 record into the Christmas break.

“In the past, I’ve had teams that haven’t wanted to take a single day off over the holiday break,” Pancho said. “They even wanted to get into the gym and scrimmage on Christmas Eve – the only day they actually took off was Christmas Day because they wanted to be with their families.

“I’ve had other teams that have needed more of a break, and I think you have to go with what each individual team needs. We’re going to take a few days off, give the kids a chance to catch their breath, and then get back in the gym after Christmas.”

Pancho wonders if his senior post understands just how important she is to the program.

“I have to wonder if Jackie will ever truly understand what she means to this team,” he said. “She’s an undersized post who isn’t the most talented player out there, but she works so hard and she has such a great attitude that she’s invaluable.

“I don’t know that she will ever realize just how much her teammates rely on her and depend on her and on her attitude.”

Rouse has been especially helpful by reaching out to the team’s younger players.

“She’s sort of taken the freshmen on the team under her wing and has worked with them and encouraged them,” Pancho said “She works with them and helps keep them together and part of the program.”

“I just figure those freshmen were put on this team for a reason,” Rouse said. “They’re here because they have something to offer, so I do whatever I can to help them along. They’re the future of this program.”

The coach said his senior will have a long legacy at West Valley.

“I think the things Jackie does now, her reaching out and helping those young players, will help them down the road,” he said. “Hopefully, they’ll take what she’s done and reach out to the players that come after them.”