From the moment Monterey Lady Wildcats Girls Basketball Player Mackenzie Vester steps onto the floor, she looks to take charge.
Now a more confident and vocal leader at point guard, Vester said she has grown into the role she has held since third grade. That growth has shown up not only in her presence, but on the stat sheet as well.
“I feel a lot more comfortable being able to talk to my teammates and kind of be that leader and putting them where I want them on the court,” Vester said. “And I’ve been able to get more comfortable with my own skills and being able to be more present on the court.”
Even as a freshman, Vester said she knew there was another level she needed to reach. With each season, that confidence has continued to build, and this year, so have the numbers. Vester is posting career highs in both scoring average and steals per game, including a single-game career high of four steals in a recent matchup against Jackson County.
As Monterey’s point guard, Vester said she embraces the challenge of making the right decision every trip down the floor. Vester said knowing when to attack and when to distribute is a balance she has worked to refine with experience.
“You have to be able to know when it’s the time that you need to go score for your team,” Vester said. “But you also need to be able to read the court and when it’s a good time to go and be able to drive in and pass out for a three.”
Vester said those reads can change from game to game, and even possession to possession. Much of her decision-making centers around attacking the lane and kicking the ball out to shooters, while also working within weave motion and half-court offensive sets. That chemistry has been especially important alongside seniors Haylee Trevethan and Gracie Burgess, giving Monterey added flexibility and creativity on offense.
Just as important as the X’s and O’s, though, is Vester’s mindset — particularly against tough opponents.
“Not everything’s going to go our way out there on the court,” Vester said. “I have to keep a good mindset because if I have low energy, it starts to spread to the team so my goal is always to keep a positive attitude and stay positive out there on the court, because as soon as we start to get negative, things just start going downhill more and more.”
For the Lady Wildcats, Vester’s steady hand at point guard has become a constant. Vester will enter region play in back to back seasons averaging more than five points, three rebounds, and two assists per game.