Enjoying the ride
Mead senior Brendan Ingebritsen views his surpassing 1,000 points in his high school basketball career much like a motorist bypassing a scenic viewpoint on a freeway.
Sure, it might be enjoyable to stop and admire, but ultimately it’s an inconsequential sojourn en route to a more meaningful destination.
“It’s nice to get that 1,000-point mark, but it’s not like it’s the biggest thing I’m looking for overall,” Ingebritsen said. “I’d rather have success with the basketball team as far as wins and losses go. It’s not about individual success. It’s always nice to have the team winning and succeeding out there, too.
“I’ve never been to state at all in my whole career. It would be way more gratifying to me to make it to state.”
Mead’s results have been mixed this year at 6-7 overall, but Ingebritsen has enjoyed a breakout season and emerged as one of the Greater Spokane League’s premier players.
Through Tuesday, Ingebritsen has scored 1,091 points in his four years on the varsity squad, and his 952 points in Greater Spokane League play rank seventh in league history. Using his versatility and 6-foot-6 frame on the offensive end of the floor, Ingebritsen leads the GSL in scoring with 19.7 points per game (through 14 games).
“When I think of his game,” Mead coach Glenn Williams said, “it’s more multidimensional now. He’s always had a scorer’s mentality, and that’s something that’s hard to teach. But if you watch him now, he’s a very good passer and willing to set up other teammates for a good shot. He’s become a better defender and is our leading rebounder this year. We’ve counted on him to be multidimensional for us, and he has been.”
Ingebritsen acknowledged he was fully aware before the season what kind of expectations were going to be placed on him.
“We’ve got a lot of seniors, but we’re inexperienced,” he said. “I’m the only starter back from last year. A lot of these guys hadn’t seen or played much as far as varsity basketball goes. I knew I had to step up my game and really help the team out just as far as rebounds, points, assists and being all over the court to help the team.”
Williams said Ingebritsen is drawing attention from NCAA Division III and NAIA programs, but both of them can envision him playing in the upper echelon of college basketball.
“My goal next year is to be playing somewhere” in Division I, Ingebritsen said. “That’s everyone’s goal if they’re playing basketball. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll work hard and go to the best spot possible that’s good for me personally.”
Williams echoed that last thought and stressed that “education is the first thing, and he should go where he loves his teammates and is comfortable with his teammates and coach.”
It’s a destination permitting Ingebritsen to pay no mind to the highlights early in his journey.