She lets her shooting do the talking
SRV’s Pasco earns honor as Chronicle’s Player of Year
Natalie Pasco disdains attention, say her coaches and teammates. No photos or interviews, please.
“She is the definition of a silent leader,” said San Ramon ValleyDanville assistant coach Joe Cristiano. “She doesn't say much but leads by example every day with her work ethic and relentless passion to be great.”
When left alone, the 5foot10 junior is a lethal scorer, as she showed in backtoback East Bay Athletic League games against CaliforniaSan Ramon on May 78.
She scored 41 points and had 14 rebounds at home that Friday, followed by 46 points and 14 rebounds the following night in San Ramon. She had another eruption — 44 points and 13 rebounds in a 9959 win over Dougherty ValleySan Ramon — on her way to averaging 28.3 points and 13 rebounds for the Wolves (110), who finished No. 4 in The Chronicle’s final Bay Area rankings. She had a gamehigh 16 points in the team’s signature win, 5648 over No. 5 CarondeletConcord, coached by her AAU coach, Kelly Sopak.
Though she might deflect the attention, here’s some more splash for Pasco: She’s The Chronicle’s 2021 Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
“She’s worked her entire life for an award like this,” Cristiano said. “She never cheats the game and truly loves basketball, which is why it is such a blessing to be her coach.”
Cristiano said Pasco, whose sophomore season was ended by a broken ankle, is the best prep shooter he has ever seen, boys or girls. Pasco made 49% of her 3point attempts, shot 62% overall and 79% from the line. She rarely played in the fourth quarter, with SRV winning by an average of 36 points.
“She won’t wow you in pregame warmups with her athleticism, speed, size or quickness,” said Cristiano, noting Pasco has three Division I offers. “But when the lights are brightest and the game gets tight, there’s nobody I would rather have on my team taking big shots. She’s a fearless competitor.”
Other Regional Players of the Year
San Francisco, Sabrina Ma (St. Ignatius): The 510 junior averaged 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists for the Wildcats (135), who finished No. 7 in the Bay Area rankings. All five SI losses came to the topthree ranked teams: Pinewood, Mitty and SalesianRichmond. She’s being recruited by San Jose State, Wagner and UC San Diego.
PeninsulaSouth Bay, Courtni Thompson (Pinewood): The fouryear starter was the second leading scorer on the Central Coast Section Openchampion Panthers (170). Thompson piled up 826 points, 364 rebounds, 218 assists and 153 steals in her career as Pinewood went 9612.
East Bay, Nakilah Johnson and Trinity Zamora (Piedmont): The duo dominated in all phases, leading the Highlanders (142) to a No. 8 Chronicle ranking. Johnson, a 511 senior signed to Weber State, averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and four steals, while Zamora, a 511 sophomore and a national recruit, averaged 23 points and 18 rebounds.
North Bay, Gracyn Lovette (Marin CatholicKentfield): A firstteam AllMarin County Athletic League performer as a freshman, Lovette was even better as a sophomore for the Wildcats (95), who finished No. 14 in The Chronicle rankings. The 510 wing averaged 13.5 points per game. Her favorite players are Luka Doncic (offense) and Draymond Green (defense).