SEQUIM — Sequim’s Jayla Julmist is a frontcourt player who blends into the background personality-wise as easily as she boxes out the opposition for rebounds on the offensive and defensive glass.
“Outwardly she is mild-mannered, yes, but Jayla has a fire inside of her,” Wolves coach Linsay Rapelje said. “She shows it in the way she plays.
“I think she does a good job of mentally preparing herself. Quiet, but you can tell she’s processing and focusing before games.”
At first glance, Julmist easily possesses the height needed to be a superior rebounder — but the heart is what drives the 6-foot sophomore to average a double-double, 10 points and 14 rebounds per game this year for Sequim (16-7). Julmist also swats and swipes – averaging 2 blocks and 2.5 steals per game.
“Phenomenal,” Rapelje said to describe Julmist’s efforts this season.
“You look at her and she is tall and athletic. She can jump and that gives her an advantage.”
“Personally, rebounding to me is all about grit and desire. You don’t have to be the tallest, you need to be able to read the situation and get in there and get the boards.
“I feel Jayla has both the physical [build] and has the desire to want to hunt down those rebounds.”
The No. 14 Wolves are on the prowl for the program’s first trip to the state tournament since the 2006-2007 team advanced to state under current boys head coach Greg Glasser.
Sequim will make its first-ever state regional round appearance in a loser-out, winner-to-state tournament game against No. 11 Foster (20-4) at 8 p.m. tonight at Auburn-Mountainview High School.
Julmist’s play has boosted the Wolves’ fortunes this season.
“She helps the team a lot,” teammate Kalli Wiker said.
“She posts up and you pass her the ball you know she’ll score.
“Her rebounding is so important, we wouldn’t be in the same spot without J.”
It’s a simple fact, teams that prioritize rebounding get more out of the game. They get more possessions and get more higher-percentage shots close to the hoop, get fouled more and get more free throw attempts.
And rebounders keep the opposition from second-chance opportunities to score.
Rapelje said Julmist has shown improvement in getting the ball up the floor in transition this season, whether with outlet passes or dribbling up to a ball handler.
“I feel like she is coming along in that area” Rapelje said. “She’s recognizing she can bring the ball up if she needs to. It’s another way to clear yourself [of defenders]. She’s capable of it, she has those ball-handling abilities.”
Rapelje thinks Julmist’s want-to comes from her lineage — Julmist is the daughter of athletes who met while playing college basketball at The Master’s University in southern California.
Her dad Joclin was born in the Bahamas before and is an assistant coach for the Sequim girls. Julmist’s mom Nikki, runs Sequim’s SportsFit Training Center.
“Both of her parents are competitive and played college basketball,” Rapelje said. “Jayla was born into a family of competitors.
“Joclin is one of the assistant coaches, so she talkes to him about what she needs to accomplish during games.”
With a state tournament berth on the line tonight against the Bulldogs, the Wolves expect to exploit their height advantage inside, meaning Julmist and fellow post Hope Glasser will be counted on to score and control the glass. Foster’s district roster lists five players at 5-foot-7, and just two at 5-8 or taller.
“Our expectation is to get her the ball, but I tell the girls you can’t control the offense and what goes in the hoop,” Rapelje said. “You can control defense and effort and that gives us the spark.”
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
