Stanford-bound senior forward Brittany McPhee -- The News Tribune's girls Player of the Year for the third consecutive season -- averaged 27 points, 14 rebounds, 2.8 blocked shots and 3.3 steal per game for Mount Rainier High School this season
Mount Rainier High senior named All-Area Player of the Year for third consecutive
season
TYLER HEMSTREET, THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM, MARCH 4, 2014
As the player from Edmonds-Woodway cut down the lane on a beeline to the basket, Mount Rainier High senior Brittany McPhee was a half-step behind — just waiting for her moment to pounce.
As the shot was released, McPhee quickly swatted the basketball away, corralling it immediately after the redirection. Moments later, the senior was sprinting down the court with the ball, pulling up and knocking down a 3-pointer at the other end.
The play — just one of McPhee’s many highlights in the Rams’ 76-46 Class 4A state regional win over the Spartans last week — offered a glimpse of how the 6-foot forward’s already dominant skills have matured over the years to make her into the player she is now.
Per-game averages of 27 points, 14 rebounds, 2.8 blocked shots and 3.3 steals this season — but mainly her ability to change a game single-handedly — are the main reasons the Stanford-bound McPhee is The News Tribune’s All-Area girls Player of the Year for the third consecutive season.
“She’s just so smart,” Mount Rainier coach Bob Bolam said. “She knows when to double (team), when to pick people off; just a very instinctive player out on the floor.”
While McPhee gained most of the acclaim early in her career for her ability to score, her defense and rebounding have steadily improved over the years. And she has never faltered in her uncanny ability to finish in heavy traffic at the rim — either by an offensive rebound, putback or acrobatic layup.
“As an opposing coach, sometimes you get caught up in watching her,” said White River coach Chris Gibson, whose team has played the Rams and McPhee a couple times over the past two seasons.
McPhee has scored more than 30 points in a game eight times this year — including a 42-point outburst against Kentridge in January. Her 2,714 career points and 1,360 rebounds are school records, and she’ll likely capture her third Gatorade State Girls Basketball Player of the Year award when it is announced next week.
Already blessed with the physical abilities, McPhee worked this season on polishing parts of her game that needed minor work. Outside shooting, ball-handling and passing are things Stanford coaches have asked her to focus on this year.
“This year I’ve been able to anticipate (plays on defense) a little better,” McPhee said.
That’s a scary thought, considering she was already a solid rebounder and overall defender.
“She has incredible length,” Gibson said. “She controls the whole game — not just the offensive side.”
And speaking of offense, teams have tried everything in the book to slow her down. Edmonds-Woodway even took to getting physical with her — at one time unfurling her long, trademark braid in her hair. McPhee has found a way to fight through it all.
“Once they start (being physical), you have to realize it,” she said. “Then I start hitting outside shots instead of going inside.”
She has racked up all the awards, but a 4A state title has eluded her. McPhee hopes to change that this week at the Tacoma Dome.
“It’s the biggest thing to do right now,” McPhee said. “It would be so great to win state. Especially with my twin sister, it would be the best way to go out. We really want it.”
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