EVERETT — Variously described as a “blessing” and “a gift” by her teammates, Peninsula College sophomore Zhara Laster draws even more praise from women’s basketball coach Alison Crumb.
“From a full-blown package perspective, with her defense, her ability to guard bigs and guards and play the perimeter and play in the paint, and be able to handle the ball and do all the things she does, she’s probably one of the best overall players I’ve ever had in this program because she contributes in every stat line,” Crumb said.
“She gets steals, she gets assists, she can score, rebound, she gets stops, she can make free throws, hit 3s.
“There’s not really a weakness. She has the potential to do it all.”
Laster leads the third-ranked defending Northwest Athletic Conference champion Pirates (23-5) into today’s NWAC quarterfinal against second-ranked Umpqua (25-6) at 10 a.m. at Everett Community College.
The versatile 5-foot-9 guard/forward tops Peninsula in multiple per-game statistical categories, including rebounding (10.04), steals (3.18), assists (2.79) and is third in points (9.68).
Laster already has set the Peninsula season steals record, swiping 89 balls this season, and is just nine away from breaking the school’s career steals mark of 145, held by Karli Brakes (2011-13).
“The type of up-close, pressure defense that Crumb has us play really feeds into the style of defense that I like to play,” Laster said.
“When I go for a steal, I try to look at their shoulders and read angles. I tried reading their stomachs, but I just got lost. So I try to read their shoulders and their eyes and make a play.”
Her penchant for pilfering the ball, and a knack for either outleaping or beating out opponents for rebounds provides extra offensive opportunities for a Pirates team that loves to space the floor and run to the rim.
“With her three-plus steals per game and 10-plus rebounds per game, that’s 14 possessions that she contributes to, and for us that’s incredibly important because every time we get the ball we have the opportunity to score,” Crumb said.
Laster often cleans up long rebounds on the defensive end and quickly looks to push up the floor.
“Growing up I was very small, so I was taught to time the ball off the rim,” Laster said of her rebounding.
“I depended on my timing, and as I got older I was able to jump higher and that really helps.
“I have a pretty good eye for where the ball is going to come off, and sometimes I can just tell where it’s going and other times I just get lucky.”
Crumb loves this facet of Laster’s game the most.
“I really like her ability to rebound because she has the ability to take three or four dribbles up the floor and our guards can spend that time getting up the lane instead of spending that time to turn and collect the ball and then move upcourt,” Crumb said.
“When Zhara gets a rebound, our guards can just go, and we have a pretty good opportunity to score on the break.”
Freshman post Daijhan Cooks enjoys having Laster as a teammate and loves her ability to play with both her left and right hands.
“She’s just a gift,” Cooks said.
“We’re so lucky to play with her.
“It gives us a boost of energy to see somebody sacrifice and sell out to get the ball on a rebound, to get the steal, it helps us out a lot.
“She can dominate the ball as a scorer, but she’s a team player, and I like that about her.”
Laster’s work ethic stands out to freshman Jenise McKnight.
“She’s a blessing,” McKnight said.
“She goes after everything, and she’s such a hard worker she makes up for anything we don’t catch on to. She motivates me every time she’s on the floor.”
Crumb said Laster, who’s improved her averages in every major statistical category compared to her freshman season, has made the biggest improvement mentally.
“She’s still hard on herself, but she’s more able to shake things off this year,” Crumb said.
“She’s still one of those players that gets down on herself if she makes a mistake, but last year it was a lot more visible.
“We would have to take her out of the game all the time to sort of let her regather. And then get her back out on the floor as quickly as we could.
“This year, I feel more comfortable just letting her work that out on the floor instead of pulling her out to protect her.
“Mentally, she’s just become so much stronger, and that’s such a boost because we don’t want her off the floor if we can help it.”
More of a lead-by-example type, Laster’s growing maturity has rubbed off on her teammates.
“She’s been a good leader for those freshman who may also struggle with getting down on themselves or getting kind of negative. To see a player get better at that shows that you can get better at that and not hang on to past mistakes,” Crumb said.
Cooks says Laster has assisted with her own growth this season.
“To me personally, we have a special bond, we really click,” Cooks said.
“She helps me even when I’m down to stay motivated and stay in the game. She’ll pull me aside and give me advice. And she accepts it, too.
“I just tell her to toss it, leave it all behind and make the next play.”
Against Umpqua, Laster will be tasked with guarding Sawyer Kluge, a Bremerton product and former Olympic League MVP, who averages 21 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.
“This is Zhara’s game, in my opinion,” Crumb said.
“She needs to go out there and put herself in the mix. She’s going to be guarding Sawyer Kluge, one of their tougher rebounders and players, and I think that because Sawyer takes so many shots Zhara has an opportunity to get a lot of rebounds.
“She’s going to have her work cut out for her, but Zhara’s a player who wants the test of playing against good players because she knows she’s a good player herself.”
Crumb said Umpqua likes to play the same up-tempo style as Peninsula.
“It’s almost like looking in the mirror sometimes,” Crumb said.
“This game will be about who can control possessions and not give the ball away, and rebound and win the battle on the boards.”
Broadcast options
Today’s game will be live steamed online on the NWAC’s YouTube page at tinyurl.com/PDN-NWAC16 and broadcast live on Forks Radio 1490 AM and online at Forks1490.com.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 57050 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
