When the Blaine girls' basketball team attempts to return to the state tournament with a regional game against Castle Rock on Friday, Feb. 22, at Chehalis W.F. West, one player will dictate how it plays.

Breanna Chau is considered to be the spark plug for the Borderites - a big task for a sophomore.

But on a team with no seniors, Chau was the natural fit to take charge.

"She might not be a captain, but a lot of girls look to her for advice and direction," Blaine coach Ryan Pike said in a phone interview. "She is a leader on the team and on the court."

Chau started her freshman year, and said she knows there is a lot of pressure on the Borderites to get back to Yakima. Blaine advanced to the Class 2A State Tournament last season, and now in its first year as a 1A school, many expect the team to do the same.

"Last year was a great year for us, because we were the first team to advance to state from Blaine for a while," Chau said in a phone interview. "I just really want to keep that going. Our goal this year is to keep winning and go for as long as we can."

Chau, the team's point guard, leads a potent Borderite attack that averages almost 50 points per game and has a 20-6 record. She is not the leading scorer on the team, averaging 8.3 points per game, but that doesn't mean she isn't in control.

Chau said the team is filled with shooters and knows that she can pass it off and they will make the shots.

Pike said Chau sets the tone for the team and runs the offense. She also spearheads the defense and makes sure her teammates are in the right spots.

On the defensive end, she is considered to be one of the best on-ball defenders in the Northwest Conference, Pike said.

"She is a little pest, and if you have the ball she is going to get after you and make you think twice about dribbling," Pike said. "She does most things right and is almost always in the right spot, giving the ball handler a tough time. She offers up so much more than just scoring points."

Pike said it is obvious when Chau is out on the court, because she can be heard talking almost as much as she can be heard hitting the floor after taking charge.

Away from basketball, talking is not something that Chau is usually known for.

"I'm not the most vocal person at school, but on the court - that's my comfort zone," Chau said. "I'm just trying to work as a team. I think you can always count on your teammates to pull yourself back in."

Chau said she knows she will have bad games, but that she can always count on her teammates to pick her back up.

She didn't intend to be a leader this year - she said it just happened because of how passionate she is about basketball.

"I just want everyone to have fun and play their hearts out," Chau said. "You never know when you won't be able to play again, and I just want to get everyone pumped up and working hard."

The team has come a long way since the beginning of the year, Pike said.

In his first year at the helm, Pike implemented his own offense and defense for the team, but has been surprised at how well the players have adapted.

"They really struggled at the beginning of the year, but they have responded really well," Pike said. "The growth I have seen in them is tremendous. I can't wait for next season, because the sky is the limit."

Pike said he isn't planning on changing anything now that Blaine has reached the state's final 16 for a second straight year and knows that the Borderites can still find success if they put the work and effort in.

But Chau said the team can improve on some parts of its game, specifically starting out the second half strong.

"We need to come out strong every quarter," Chau said. "There are always hills and valleys in a game, but we sometimes got down and couldn't pick ourselves back up. We need to play strong for the whole 32 minutes no matter who we are playing."

That's particularly important, considering the Borderites will take on a Rockets team that has yet to lose so far this year and has allowed only one team to score more than 42 points.

But Blaine set a goal at the beginning of the year to make it to Yakima, and Pike said he thinks they can play with any team this year.

Reach Kyle Elliott or kyle.elliott@bellinghamherald.com or 360-715-2271.

THIS WEEKEND'S REGIONAL ROUND

FRIDAY, FEB. 22

CLASS 2A GIRLS

At Lynden High School

Cedarcrest vs. Port Angeles, 6 p.m.

Olympic vs. Burlington-Edison 8 p.m.

CLASS 1A GIRLS

At Mount Vernon High School

Woodland vs. Cascade Christian, 6 p.m.

Hoquiam vs. Lynden Christian, 8 p.m.

At Chehalis W.F. West

King's vs. Montesano, 6 p.m.

Blaine vs. Castle Rook, 8 p.m.

SATURDAY FEB. 23

CLASS 2A BOYS

At Lynden High School

Burlington-Edison vs. White River, 4 p.m.

Sumner vs. Lynden, 6 p.m.

CLASS 1A BOYS

At Mount Vernon High School

LaCenter vs. Cedar Park Christian, 4 p.m.

Hoquiam vs. Lynden Christian, 6 p.m.

At Chehalis W.F. West

King's vs. Kalama, 4 p.m.

Mount Baker vs. Toledo, 6 p.m.

BLAINE ROSTER

No. Player Yr. Ht. Pos. G Pts. Avg.

1. Emily Roe So. 5-6 P 12 2 0.2

2. Gretchen Kordas So. 5-5 G 11 0 0.0

4. Brenna Chau So. 5-4 G 26 217 8.3

10. Olivia Olason Jr. 5-8 F 26 99 3.8

13. Alexis McElwain Jr. 5-10 P 25 234 9.4

14. Nicole Ortega So. 5-8 P 19 18 0.9

20. Mikayla Deming So. 5-10 F 14 9 0.6

33. Rhiana Breedlove Jr. 5-7 G 26 41 1.6

30. Kjirstin Larson Fr. 5-8 F 1 0 0.0

34. Taylor V'Dovec So. 5-10 F 26 327 12.6

35. Mandy Hayes So. 5-9 G 26 316 12.2

BLAINE RESULTS

Coach: Ryan Pike

Record: 20-6

NWC finish: Fourth (9-3)

Seed: No. 5 out of District 1/2/3

Nov. 27 Concrete W 71-30

Nov. 30 Sedro-Woolley W 51-11

Dec. 3 Mount Baker W 45-34

Dec. 7 at Ferndale L 47-40

Dec. 10 Meridian W 56-18

Dec. 14 Lynden Christian* L 38-36

Dec. 18 Nooksack Valley* L 65-56

Dec. 21 at Anacortes* W 58-48

Dec. 27 Cascade Christian L 47-40

Dec. 28 White River W 54-51

Jan. 3 Bellingham* W 58-31

Jan. 7 Ferndale* L 52-33

Jan. 10 at Squalicum* W 47-25

Jan. 15 Sehome* W 42-35

Jan. 18 at Meridian* W 49-19

Jan. 21 at Mount Baker* W 49-36

Jan. 25 Lynden* W 37-26

Jan. 26 Friday Harbor W 53-25

Jan. 29 at Sedro-Woolley* W 55-32

Feb. 1 at Burlington-Edison* W 48-41

CLASS 1A NORTHWEST DISTRICT TOURNAMENT

Feb. 4 Mount Baker W 46-32

Feb. 6 at King's L 34-32

Feb. 8 South Whidbey W 48-32

Feb. 9 Nooksack Valley W 51-40

CLASS 1A TRI-DISTRICT TOURNAMENT

Feb. 15 Port Townsend W 49-31

Feb. 16 Eatonville W 56-33

*NWC game

CASTLE ROCK RESULTS

Coach: Don Misner

Record: 21-0

1A Trico finish: First (16-0)

Seed: No. 1 out of District 4

Nov. 29 King's Way Christian W 62-24

Dec. 6 at Ilwaco W 65-38

Dec. 11 Stevenson W 58-39

Dec. 14 at Columbia W 56-26

Dec. 18 at Kalama W 61-41

Dec. 20 Woodland W 49-41

Dec. 21 at LaCenter W 49-28

Dec. 27 Hockinson W 57-40

Jan. 3 at Toledo W 56-42

Jan. 8 Ilwaco W 55-38

Jan. 11 at Stevenson W 51-42

Jan. 12 at Columbia River W 56-52

Jan. 15 Columbia W 57-16

Jan. 17 Kalama W 53-38

Jan. 22 at Woodland W 38-28

Jan. 25 LaCenter W 45-36

Jan. 29 King's Way Christian W 64-34

Feb. 1 Toledo W 62-30

CLASS 1A SOUTHWEST DISTRICT TOURNAMENT

Feb. 8 Rainier W 53-30

Feb. 12 Hoquiam W 46-32

Feb. 16 at Montesano W 43-32