Player Profile: Sara Scalia (2019)

02/27/2016, 9:15am CST

Article By Brett Boese at Northstar Girls Hoops

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Stillwater sniper earned last week's POW nod

Stillwater freshman Sara Scalia, our Player of the Week voting for the week of Feb 14, has the total green light for second-year head coach Willie Taylor. And why not? The 5-9 sniper is the team's leading scorer at 16 ppg while connecting on 68 treys, good for sixth-most in the state.

She's taking more than 7 triples a game, some from the volleyball line, and connecting at 37% while being the main focus of every defense she sees.

Taylor, who led St. Paul Central to back-to-back state titles, thinks so highly of Scalia that he just laughs when asked to describe her — before saying she's among the best freshmen he's ever coached.

"If she can see it, she can make," Taylor said. "She's got the green light from the second she steps in the gym. I actually like looking at the (game film) because the other coaches are just shaking their heads after she shoots."

The blossoming scorer was a pleasant surprise for Taylor after he accepted the job a year ago. Scalia made the varsity team as an 8th grader and Taylor says he coddled her, never once yelling while she adjusted to the varsity game.

That's changed this year as he's demanded more of his go-to scorer — and she's responded with improved rebounding, defense and playmaking. She's also doubled her scoring.

Despite her emergence, Stillwater has struggled this year, finishing the season at just 9-16 after two upperclassmen opted not to play and senior guard Rilee Day (9.1 PPG, #177 NGH) tore her ACL. That's forced others, including five freshmen, into more prominent roles.

The Ponies still managed to close the regular season by winning 3 of 4 to nab the #5 seed in Section 4, with big scoreboard reversals against Cretin-Durham Hall, Mounds View and Woodbury. Scalia and Taylor hope that's evidence that this is a program about to turn the corner.

“We were losing and a lot of people were starting to wonder if we’d win any games," Taylor said. “But Sara’s just picked up her game. Her teammates are getting her the ball when she’s open. 

“I’m going to keep running double screens for her. If people guard it, great. If they don’t, she’s going to knock it down.”

Q & A

NORTHSTAR: You aren't on Twitter, but the Stillwater team rallied around you last week during POW voting. What did you think when you heard you were nominated and then became our youngest winner this season?

SARA: When I found out I was nominated for Player of the Week, I was excited because I never thought I would be up there against all the older players.  When the voting started my friends and teammates really spread the word around, I thought that was special.

NORTHSTAR: Stillwater has a very young team — you're one of five freshmen seeing varsity time — and it's been a challenging year at 9-16. What's the season been like for you?

SARA: Yes, we are a very young team and the season has been up and down, but coming down the stretch I have really gotten to know my teammates well and we now are playing better together on both ends of the court.

NORTHSTAR: You made the varsity team last year as an 8th grader and you're now the team's leading scorer. What's your mentality on the court and how has your approach changed this season?

SARA: Last year as an 8th grader I was nervous to play with all the older girls and now this year I am beginning to understand how to play at this level.  As the season has gone by I feel my overall game is getting better which has helped us win down the stretch.

NORTHSTAR: Willie Taylor is a coaching legend in Minnesota girls hoops after his long, successful tenure at St. Paul Central. After a brief stint at Hamline University, he's in his second year at Stillwater. How has he helped and pushed you to become a better player?

SARA: Coach Taylor has pushed me to become a better player by telling me what I am doing wrong and what I will need to do for the next game.  Coach Taylor has given me a lot of confidence. Coach tells me that I am getting better and to keep up the good work.

NORTHSTAR: You've helped Stillwater to three straight impressive wins two weeks ago, including 20-point reversals against Cretin-Durham Hall and Woodbury. What are your expectations in sections this year and for the years ahead?

SARA: There are a lot of good teams in our Section.  We (were) on a 3 game wining streak which has really given us confidence, but every game will be tough in Sections. My expectation for next year is that we have a lot of young players and were only going to get better in the years ahead.