SPOKANE — Senior co-captain Faye Chartraw pointed to an ability to come together and play like family as the biggest reason for Neah Bay’s success this year after the Red Devils’ state-clinching regional win against Bickleton last month.
Helping speed that cohesiveness along is the sisters Greene: senior Hailey, junior Holly and freshman Jessica.
This is the second year the trio has played together on the Red Devils varsity team. Last season, Jessica, as an eighth-grader, showed so much potential that she got an early call-up and played a vital role as a reserve in Neah Bay’s sixth-place finish at state.
It’s been much of the same for the trio this year on the team’s run to the third-place game at this year’s Class 1B state tournament at Spokane Arena.
Hailey starts at point guard and plays lockdown defense at the top of the Red Devils’ 2-3 zone.
She attacks the rim in transition offensively, willing to pay a heavy toll for her trips to the basket.
“[Hailey’s] just tough,” Neah Bay coach Tony McCaulley said.
“She reminds me of her brother Zeke in playing that tough end-to-end defense.”
Zeke Greene served as the defensive stopper/enforcer on last year’s Neah Bay boys hoops team, and was a hard-hitting defensive back on the 2011 and 2013 state champion football teams.
“I loved how hard my brother played,” Hailey said. “He’s been a big inspiration for me.”
Hailey’s ability to fight through pain also impresses McCaulley.
“She’s got a broken nose,” McCaulley said.
“She had her eyelashes ripped out last week [against Bickleton]. I just love her.”
Hailey played youth football for Neah Bay, so it’s likely that mentality carries over to basketball.
Holly starts at the off-guard position for the Red Devils, and provides a calming influence and a good touch on her outside shots.
“She’s calm out on the floor, and I think she helps level us out,” McCaulley said.
Hailey and Jessica both agreed that Holly’s shot is the best attribute in her game.
“She can knock them down,” Jessica said.
Jessica, by McCaulley’s admission, may already be the best of the bunch.
“Her all-around game is so strong,” McCaulley said.
“She has a great-looking jump shot, she defends the passing lanes real well and she can jump out of the gym.”
Jessica proved that against Bickleton, racing down floor after a Pirates steal and flying in to swat a shot attempt into the stands.
“She’s a big part of our success this year,” McCaulley said.
“But we’re really going to count on her next year.”
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
