VIKINGS’ RAY OF SUNSHINE
Skyla Dobbertin came back from Florida and helped Valparaiso win its first sectional title since 2005
Valparaiso seniors Skyla Dobbertin and Kristin Bukata enjoy a running joke.
Bukata, a standout guard, calls Dobbertin “Skeeler.” And Dobbertin, a 6-foot forward, calls Bukata “Crystal.”
The little routine goes back five years, and the classmates picked up right where they left off even after Dobbertin spent six months in Florida — most of her junior year — before returning to Valparaiso.
It’s a small example of how seamlessly Dobbertin has reintegrated with the Vikings, who won their first sectional title since 2005.
“She’s been a great post presence for us,” Bukata said. “She’s also hilarious, so you get that two-in-one in that one.
“But she rebounds well. She learned quickly to reacclimate herself to what we have here. That was very helpful for us.”
Valparaiso coach Candy Wilson expressed similar sentiments about Dobbertin.
“What a great kid,” Wilson said. “She has such a nice personality. She gets along with everybody. She’s just a laid-back kind of kid. She was one we were so upset to see her go because we knew she was going to be somebody who could make an impact.”
Indeed, Dobbertin showed promise playing on Valparaiso’s junior varsity team as a freshman and sophomore, getting rare varsity minutes here and there.
Her family moved to the Tampa area when she was a junior. She has extended family there, and both of her parents can work remotely.
“It’s kind of funny,” Dobbertin said. “I knew I was leaving, and I just came here for the first week of school to hang out and make a few more memories.”
She attended River Ridge for the bulk of the school year. She averaged 5.0 points and 4.1 rebounds for that team, scoring 29 points in one game, according to MaxPreps.
“My team there was amazing, just like here,” Dobbertin said. “The chemistry was always there.”
But a week after the last game of the season, Dobbertin and her family went back to Valparaiso. She returned to school shortly after the Vikings’ season had ended.
“We thought it would be a fun opportunity to move, the perfect time, so we did,” she said. “Then we ended up coming back because we missed it so much.”
Dobbertin participated in offseason workouts with the Vikings, which eased her transition back into the program and helped her get into “the flow,” she said.
She is averaging 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds as Valparaiso (23-2), ranked No. 16 in the state coaches poll, prepares to play Saturday in the Class 4A LaPorte Regional against No. 1 and nationally ranked South Bend Washington (26-0).
Dobbertin really showed what she can do in the aftermath of talented junior forward Becca Gerdt’s season-ending knee injury on Dec. 16. After the start of the new year, Dobbertin scored in double figures in six straight games, averaging 11.3 points and 5.2 rebounds during that stretch. She hadn’t scored more than four points in a game to that point.
“It’s been really nice to have her come back and be that addition,” Wilson said. “When Becca went down, she really, really stepped up for us in the post. She’s a good finisher, she’s a good outside shooter, she’s good inside. She really came alive for us — clutch in a lot of games.
“It took her a while to get back into playing basketball with us over the summer and just getting into the groove with it. Then she jumped right in when we needed her.”
Dobbertin has been happy to contribute. “We unfortunately had a couple of people who got hurt, so I had to step up a little bit to fill the void,” she said. “Becca was a big scorer, and I had to step in.
“I watched a lot of film and watched what she would do. I would see where I needed to fill in a little bit and pick up the slack. Watching her and studying her game helped a lot.”
Dobbertin also has liked playing alongside freshman guard Lillian Barnes.
“Lilli is a really good driver, she’s very strong down low, so being there for her on assists is a big part of it,” Dobbertin said. “That’s a lot of my points.
“But also rebounds are a big part of my game. I’m one of the taller girls on the team, so rebounding is a big deal. I’ve been working my threes a lot, too, this season. Whatever I can do to help.”
The Vikings, who are looking for their first regional title since 2004, will need to rise to the occasion against South Bend Washington. The Panthers, who are without Maryland recruit Amiyah Reynolds for the postseason because of a foot injury, won the Class 3A title last season and are the overwhelming favorites in 4A.
But Wilson won’t concede anything.
“It’s a big game,” she said. “I feel like this time of year everybody has a chance to win everything. It’s one game, and you don’t get to this point because your team can’t play. So we have to step up. We have to have a good game, go in there to win. It’s just that simple.
“We’ve seen them play live. We went to watch them play at Crown Point. I’m pretty confident in my team. I’m not going to lay down and die, and they’re not going to lay down and die just because of rankings.”
Dobbertin said she believes Valparaiso has the makeup.
“All of us bond very well together,” she said. “We all get along. We’re all best friends. We hang out outside of basketball too. The chemistry is definitely there, and that’s a big part of it.
“Coming back here senior year, I felt like I didn’t miss a beat. I’ve always loved the game, and we all just connect so well.”