Give it to Cheese
When East Valley girls basketball coach Freddie Rehkow wants to add a little zest to the Knights lineup, he turns to Cheese.
And Cheese delivers to the tune of nine points per game.
Cheese is the nickname teammates have given fun-loving, hard-working junior guard/forward Ashley Grater
“She’s just a fun, crazy kid,” Rehkow said. “She’s been our first person off the bench. She’s really given us spark. We tried starting her for a couple of games, but we kind of lost that spark and we’ve gone back to bringing her off the bench.”
“For now, I kind of like not starting – but don’t get me wrong, I would like to start,” Grater said. “I get nervous. The first time I started, I got nervous during introductions. I didn’t know where I was supposed to go.
“Coming off the bench, you have time to relax and calm down. You can watch how the other team is playing and get used to what they’re doing before you go in.”
Being the first player off a team’s bench is a major role on a basketball team. The “sixth man” isn’t just topping on the pizza, so to speak.
Grater is versatile – filling in all over the floor, from playing point guard to post. She’s a fierce rebounder and effective scorer.
“I think with Ashley, the thing I’ve noticed is that (coming off the bench) allows her to be comfortable coming into the game,” Rehkow said. “She gets to see the defense our opponent is playing and what’s going on with the game. When she goes out there, she’s capable of being a guard and she’s got probably the best post moves of anyone on the team, even though she’s only about 5-foot-7.
“She’s got a very good sense for the game. She’s a very heady player and she goes out there and adapts real well.”
Grater played point guard on the East Valley junior varsity last year and Rehkow was confident bringing her up to the varsity for her junior season. Grater started the season deep on the Knights’ bench. Through hard work and diligent play, she worked her way into a major role.
“You just look at her frame and you ask yourself ‘Why is she getting more rebounds than our other posts?’ ” Rehkow said. ” ‘Why is she getting to the basket?’ She’s a crafty kid and she can fool a lot of people. She’s kept us in some of these ballgames. She gets in there, she grabs some rebounds, she makes a few put-backs and she makes an impact by being in the right position at the right time.”
And then, there’s that intangible quality.
“It was her speed,” Rehkow said, making an obvious Cheese joke. “I’m always joking with her about how fast she runs. Tell her I said she was the fastest player on the team – I guarantee you she’ll laugh and say ‘Yeah, right.’ “
Close.
“That’s what I pay him to tell people,” Grater laughed.
In a way, running is the key to why Grater has been so effective on the boards for the Knights.
“I’d rather play offense than play defense and have to run back down the court and guard somebody,” Grater admitted. “I don’t like to run – I’d rather go up and fight for the rebound.
“I don’t necessarily have hops or anything. I just try to get the best position possible. I get scrappy up there. I just want it more, I guess.”
What is it that makes a player listed in the program at 5-foot-8 so effective in the post?
“I’ve never really played post before,” Grater said. “I like playing post more than playing the point. You have room for error. I’m not really that tall, but I’ve practiced those moves. My stepsister’s (teammate Kylie Williamson) cousin is the coach at Snohomish High School. Whenever he comes over he teaches me stuff. My dad taught me some post moves. My stepdad, too. I’ve got a lot of dad influences.”
Rehkow appreciates the way Grater worked her way into a major role.
“She did it quietly. She went out and did what she was asked. There are times when we don’t necessarily see things eye-to-eye, but that’s not a bad thing. She wants to do good things for the team. She sometimes gets herself in a bad position, but she’s learning. She’s brought good things to the team. When you’ve lost seven of your last eight games, good things are hard to find.”