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By SCOTT SPRUILL
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

All during her young years in Woodland, Destiny Schang wanted to play on the same high school basketball team with Ashley Rodman.

Three years younger than Woodland’s all-state point guard, Schang wanted to learn first-hand how to think through a game and run an offense. As role models go, Rodman was perfect.

“I’ve known her and loved to watch her play since I was little,” said Schang, a freshman who started the season as backup to the Beavers’ 1,000-point career scorer. “One thing I always liked about her was how positive she was and much she loved to play.”

Be like Ashley, she thought.

But this season had much more in store for Schang, who for the last six weeks hasn’t played with Rodman. She’s played for her.

Struck down by an ACL injury in her left knee, Rodman missed three games in the middle of Trico League play, returned briefly for a few games but soon discovered the injury had caused too much damage. Her stellar prep career was finished.

Schang was no longer an understudy. She was suddenly the starting point guard on a team that was undefeated.

“It helped that I’d been to team camp and played in the summer with the seniors and juniors,” said the speedy 5-foot-3 Schang, the only ninth-grader on Woodland’s varsity. “I told myself when the season started that I’d be happy with anything the team needed. Well, when Ashley got hurt, there wasn’t any time to worry if I was ready for it. I had to do it.”

With her season done, Rodman didn’t sulk the remaining days of the season away. She went right to work helping Woodland’s new young floor leader.

“Ashley sort of took Destiny under her wing and has been like a personal coach,” noted Woodland coach Glen Flanagan. “There are times when Destiny doesn’t play at all like a freshman. Ashley has helped her grow up in a hurry.”

“I started as a freshman so I have some insight there,” Rodman said. “I told Destiny that my thinking that season was always pass first, shoot second. I averaged only eight points, I think, but I also got six assists and that’s what you contribute. It’s the seniors time to shine with all the scoring so I didn’t want her worrying about that too much.”

Rodman also tutored the seniors and juniors through the transition.

“It would stink for Destiny if the older kids expected to much from her,” Rodman added. “She’s learning in every game -- I remember how that goes when I was a freshman. Destiny has done a great job staying in her own game.”

Flanagan was quietly stunned how well the switch in point guards worked. When Rodman missed her first game, Woodland was 12-0 and she was averaging 13.4 points a game. Schang stepped in and the Beavers finish the regular season 23-0.

But while Rodman has been so good at teaching her young protégé how to be successful, she had some damage control to deal with Wednesday morning. Woodland couldn’t find its shooting touch against Pullman and lost its Class 2A state opener 41-33. The Beavers (23-1) will play Ephrata (12-12) Thursday morning in a loser-out game.

“I told the team, look, it’s OK to be mad. But let’s get that behind us now and get ready to play a better game tomorrow,” Rodman said. “We can play better, I know it.”
Schang wiped away her frustrations and post-game tears before she left the SunDome and it wasn’t surprising who helped her do it.

“Ashley was in there telling us we’re still here, we’ve still got another game tomorrow and we can still place fifth,” Schang said. “She’s always so positive. Ashley can’t play but she’s still a leader. That’s exactly what I want to be.”

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Tourney Bracket
:: Girls tournament
  
Other Games
Saturday
:: Lakeside 39, Ephrata 23
:: Chelan 45, Nooksack Valley 42
:: Blaine 51, Connell 33
:: East Valley 44, Pullman 31
Friday
:: Ephrata 48, Riverside 41
:: Lakeside 52, Hoquiam 39
:: Nooksack Valley 67, La Center 52
:: Chelan 57, Tenino 54, 2OT
:: Pullman 48, Connell 40
::  East Valley 50, Blaine 43, OT
Thursday
:: Ephrata 55, Woodland 38
:: Riverside 54, Eatonville 45
:: Lakeside 43, Granite Falls 36
:: Hoquiam 42, Port Townsend 40
:: Pullman 38, La Center 30
:: Connell 54. Nooksack Valley 44
:: East Valley 34, Tenino 31
:: Blaine 48, Chelan 41
Wednesday
:: La Center 69, Ephrata 37
:: Pullman 41, Woodland 33
:: Connell 54, Eatonville 33
:: Nooksack Valley 42, Riverside 35
:: Tenino 55, Granite Falls 45
:: East Valley 50, Lakeside 47
:: Blaine 44, Hoquiam 43
:: Chelan 59, Port Townsend 38
 
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