Sometimes a player’s personality gets in the way of her talents. Quiet Kailey Tooke is that kind of unassuming player. Inside, though, beats the heart of a lion.
The lion roared last Saturday inside the Del Goodyear Gym on the Culver City High School campus.
Tooke, a senior, scored 46 points in a second round 72-69 CIF playoff victory over Long Beach Millikan.
The Lady Centaurs beat Arcadia 62-42 in their CIF opener.
However, yesterday, Redondo Union (21-8) resoundingly bounced Culver City (20-9) from the playoffs, 71-30.
“Kailey would have scored 50 points if she had made all of her free throws,” said Coach Julian Anderson after the win over Millikan. “Because of her quiet demeanor, I did not realize she had that many points. I think the other team didn’t realize it either.”
Some people compare Tooke’s game to Kawhi Leonard of the NBA San Antonio Spurs. On the court, Leonard is considered the best two-way player in the league. Off the court, his personality is similar to Tooke’s. When both players give interviews, they barely can be heard and they don’t have much to say. They do their talking on the court.
Anderson has been happy to have Tooke on his varsity team for four years.
Tooke had plenty of help in their two playoff wins. “Windy Yoon played the whole game against Millikan,” said Anderson. “The fight in her was really great. Heaven Cooper stepped up in the second half against Millikan. It was great for a freshman to adjust her game like that.
“Kate Suyetsugu, the other senior on the team, stepped up in the playoffs. Her experience helped us. Although she has been injured, her presence on the court was tremendous. She did everything she could to end her senior year on a high note.”
While he has been critical of the team, “I kept hoping and wishing they would reach their potential,” Anderson said. “They are young. The mark of a good season is not the wins and losses but the type of wins and losses.
“It feels great when you win games you are not supposed to win,” he said.
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
