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

Shaw emblematic of how Colfax wins championships

Opposite of what most high school basketball players can say, Kylie Shaw doesn’t know what it feels like to not win a state title.

The Colfax senior, a four-year varsity veteran, has been a part of the Bulldogs’ three consecutive state championships.

With a resume like that, it would be easy to become, perhaps, a little arrogant.

But the 5-foot-8 guard, also a swimmer and softball player, has managed to keep her feet firmly on the ground, deflecting any credit she might deserve for the program’s success.

“It’s nice to be able to win championships,” Shaw said. “But it’s cool for the team. We just love playing together and love playing basketball. And we hate to end on a bad note so that motivates us a lot to keep winning.”

But as Colfax coach Corey Baerlocher will confirm, Shaw is a key part of Colfax’s accomplishments the last three years.

“When the game is on the line,” Baerlocher said, “she has ice going through her veins. She’s incredible. When we get into big games at state tournaments, she knocks ‘em down.”

Shaw’s main role on the team is her solid defense. Besides averaging 6.5 points per game this season, Shaw feels her job is to shut down the other team.

“I feel my main role is on defense,” Shaw said. “I have to be able to stop them from scoring and create opportunities for us to get the ball back on our end.”

“For the last three years, she has drawn our opponents’ top offensive kid,” Baerlocher said. “She’s a lock-down kid. She shuts people down and is not afraid to stick her nose in there.”

Baerlocher talks not just about Shaw, but about his team’s modesty in its endeavors. With two three-time state champs and seven two-time defending champions on this year’s squad, modesty seems like it would be a rare quality.

“We’re not defending anything,” Baerlocher said. “We are always just glad to get back down (to state) and play. They really are modest and quite humble, and they respond well to the pressure of being from a small town and being so good.

“Kylie’s a great kid and in a small school when you’re as athletic as she is, it would be easy to get wrapped up in yourself,” Baerlocher said. “She’s not like that. She’s selfless and that’s what our program demands. We don’t coach all-stars – we’re a team.”

Shaw has orally committed to play basketball next year at Wenatchee Valley Community College.

Starting Friday, the Bulldogs have five games in eight days. They kick things off when they play host to Kettle Falls on Friday. Saturday, Colfax travels to Newport.