PORT ANGELES — A common thread exists for Port Angeles’ three state tournament appearances since 2014 under head coach Michael Poindexter — the presence of players who shoulder heavy responsibilities, but don’t make a huge splash in going about their duties.
Poindexter calls them “Glue persons,” players who embrace nonglamorous roles to further their team’s chances at winning.
His 2014 squad had Kylee Jeffers and Bailee Jones fill roles as defenders and ball handlers for the Riders. Last season saw departed seniors Natalie Steinman and Gracie Long, who each dealt with asthma, nearly work themselves to the point of exhaustion guarding the baseline in Port Angeles’ 1-3-1 zone defense.
This season? Riders’ junior guard and co-captain Mikkiah Brady serves as a glue person for Port Angeles, a team made up of players from four different grade levels.
“[It’s] a team made up of veterans and those new to varsity,” Poindexter said. “And she binds us together in a way that is pretty special.”
Poindexter is constantly pulling his three upperclassmen captains — Brady, seniors Summer Olsen and the injured Aeverie Politika — aside for pre- and post-practice chats.
“Yes, we have a lot of after-practice and before-practice discussions, so I can give the captains the coaches’ perspective and they can relay any issues or concerns from the players,” Poindexter said.
As one of just three juniors or seniors on the team, Brady has fully stepped into her position as a leader.
“It’s an important role. I have a good relationship between all the kids on the team and I’m able to speak for them,” Brady said.
Brady’s commitment to serving her teammates impresses Poindexter.
“She is compassionate, she’s wise, she’s balanced and she doesn’t get caught up in teammates’ drama,” Poindexter said.
“An unselfish player that does a great job of bridging the coaching staff and the roster. I could talk about Mikkiah all day.”
She’s already displaying coach-like qualities, even if she doesn’t always realize it.
After Port Angeles claimed the West Central District championship over White River Feb. 16, Brady walked over to teammates Jaida Wood and Madison Cooke who were celebrating the victory before going through the postgame handshake line with the Hornets.
Brady guided the pair over to the team bench — a move many coaches would either handle themselves or applaud as a sign of respect for the opposition.
“No, I didn’t even notice that I did that,” Brady said. “I just went over there, gave them a pat and congratulated them.”
Coaching may be in her future, too.
“I enjoy being a leader, especially with younger kids,” Brady said. “I like to teach them new skills. My dad [Ed] used to coach YMCA and a really young AAU team and so I would help him out with that and it was really fun for me.”
It’s not all an administrative role with the Roughriders for Brady. She puts in work on the floor for the Riders as well, averaging 5.5 points per game, 2.4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.3 steals.
Against Bellevue, Brady sank two clutch free throws with 1 second left to force overtime in a game the Riders eventually won 46-40.
Brady struggled with her shot early in the season, but she still contributed.
“Another thing we talk about all the time in the program is we tell the team what we like about each individual player,” Poindexter said. “The kids have heared this a lot — when part of Mikkiah’s game was off, and early in the year she struggled from oustide — but you never, ever saw her put her head in her hands, jog back on defense, or look into the stands.
“She got steals, she got assists. She’s steady. She doesn’t let adversity in one area of her game bleed over into another area of her game. Now her shot is better and more comfortable, but when it wasn’t coming easy for her, you couldn’t tell.”
Brady knew she could still contribute.
“I was definitely trying to be level-headed,” she said. “It was frustrating, but there are so many other components of basketball that I was trying to focus on at that time. I knew that eventually [her shot] would come. Or even if I was having an off night, get it to the person who was hot.
“I just didn’t let it get to me.”
Port Angeles’ Mikkiah Brady, left, scoops up a loose ball as Sequim’s Jessica Dietzman looks on during an Olympic League 2A Division game in January.
