A lot of point guards would rather not play for a coach, who used to be a point guard. Former point guards understand how important that role is on a team and have high expectations for that position.
For most of her career, grades 9-12, El Dorado’s Charalyn Rester played for a former point guard in Coach Ashlee Curtis.
“I’m an ex-college point guard. So, I understand what the duties of a point guard are,” Curtis said. “Some people say that makes it harder for her. I say it makes it easier because she has somebody talking to her that knows what the expectations are and what it’s like to be at that next level.”
Curtis fancied herself as hard to please for her point guard. Rester’s positive assist-to-turnover ratio left her coach smiling after most games this season. The 5-foot-3 senior dished out 3.4 assists per game to just 2.8 turnovers, which, considering the Lady Wildcats’ furious pace, was quite impressive.
Rester averaged 13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.8 steals. She led the team in scoring, assists and steals and was actually second on the team in rebounding.
For her work, Rester is the Sports Alley/News-Times Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
“Charalyn has the hardest job on the court. I tell everybody that,” said Curtis. “If something goes wrong in the offense, it’s Charalyn’s fault. If something goes wrong on the defense, it’s Charalyn’s fault because as a point guard, you have to be able to be the little coach on the court. Charalyn has done a phenomenal job, not only in practice but in the games, of making sure everybody was where they were supposed to be, when they were supposed to be. If a play goes good, a defensive play goes good, it’s usually because Charalyn started it.
“She’s a playmaker. Whenever you need a big shot, Charalyn is going to be the one to hit it.”
A three-year starter, Rester’s graduation will leave a massive hole in El Dorado’s lineup. Curtis said finding a replacement will be a primary priority in the off-season.
“She might be small but those shoes are huge. She’s had the ability to be underneath me since she’s been in the ninth grade. She knows my expectations. She knows what I expect. A lot of times I can go in the locker room and she knows what I’m going to say. I can pause for a second and she’ll finish my sentence.
“I’m looking for that little coach, somebody who can be vocal and can lead and not only on the court. Charalyn leads in the classroom as well. She works very hard in the classroom. She’s a leader at all times and not just on the court. That’s tough to find a kid who’s mature enough and huge shout out to her parents for raising her that way. Her parents have raised her to not follow the pack and to do what’s right at all times. That’s Charalyn.
“Her shoes are huge but not everybody’s shoes are meant to be filled because they’re not theirs. They have to create their own shoes.”