MERIDIAN — In 45 seconds over three consecutive possessions at the start of the fourth quarter, Destiny Slocum was unstoppable.
She made back-to-back 3-pointers from the right corner, and then picked up a steal, driving coast to coast for a layup.
Centennial needed a timeout just to catch its breath.
The 15-year-old Mountain View freshman has been causing problems for opposing teams all season, and she made it look easy again Thursday night, spearheading the Mavericks’ 53-36 victory over Centennial.
“I love her so much,” Mountain View senior forward Josie Lawrence said. “Not all guards are instinctual like Destiny or trust themselves and have as much confidence in themselves as she does. It really helps with controlling the floor and making good passes.”
It’s rare for a freshman to start at the point in the competitive 5A Southern Idaho Conference, but Slocum’s natural ability is undeniable, teammates say.
“Destiny knows the game and understands the game and she plays like a senior,” Mountain View coach Connie Skogrand said.
Slocum scored a game-high 17 points Thursday, shooting 5-for-8 from the field, 3-for-4 from 3-point range and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. She had just one turnover in nearly 30 minutes on the floor.
The 5-foot-7 Slocum has taken her breakout season in stride.
When she was called for a travel in the first half, Slocum looked over at the Maverick bench, mouthed “Did I travel?” and then smiled and moved on.
“To be a freshman, and the only freshman on varsity, I didn’t know a lot of these girls,” Slocum said. “It was hard to get situated, but they really opened their arms to me. I feel so welcomed here.”
Mountain View (12-3, 13-4) remains in the hunt for the 5A SIC title heading into the final week of the regular season.
The Mavericks became the first team to reach 12 league wins, but Rocky Mountain (13-2, 11-2), Meridian (13-3, 11-3) and Centennial (11-6, 10-5) are also within reach. Teams play 18 games during the regular season.
Skogrand said tough defense and general hustle have anchored her Mavericks so far, and will play a huge role in the team’s success moving forward.
“We’ve got to maintain and do what we just did tonight,” Skogrand said. “Keep it going, the same mentality.”
Rachel Roberts: 377-6422, Twitter: @IDS_VarsityX
