Compton focused on helping PikeView

GARDNER — Danielle Compton again proved herself invaluable as a member of the PikeView Panthers last week, scoring 58 points and grabbing 33 rebounds in three games.

She would have traded those stats for wins against Class AA powers Westside and Summers County and Class AAA opponent Nicholas County.

“I don’t look at my game in terms of points or rebounds,” she said. “It’s not about me, but if we do well as a team.”

That didn’t go well for the Panthers in an 0-3 week, which included a two-point loss to defending state champion Summers County.

But Compton’s consistent contributions showed through and earned her the latest Pocahontas Coal Association/ Bluefield Daily Telegraph player of the week honor.

“She just works hard,” said PikeView head coach Karen Miller. “She’s not selfish. She’ll sacrifice, she’ll do whatever we need her to do … She’s the kind of person that, it’s not about her. It’s always about ‘What can I do to help the team.’ She’s a joy to have.”

That commitment to “helping the team” translated to 28 points and 10 rebounds against the Lady Bobcats in a 62-60 loss; 16 points and 14 rebounds in a 56-50 loss to Nicholas County, and 14 points and nine rebounds in a 61-43 setback to Westside.

“Last week we had three tough games,” Compton said. “All of them were big.”

The senior has been in big games for four years now, since being added to the PikeView varsity roster as a ninth grader.

She said, “I feel like my role when I was a freshman and played varsity was as a reliever, going in when one of my teammates would need a break.”

Now, in her final campaign, she is being called upon usually to hold down the center position, known in hoops strategy as “the 5.”

Miller said, “She’s the 5 this year. Actually, she can play the 3, 4 or 5.”

It was different from playing on the wing or at shooting guard, but Miller said, “She’s taking it fine. It took some adjustment, but in the game, the kids are able to find her.”

“She’s going up against 6-footers, 5-10, 5-9 opponents and she does real well. She can shoot from outside, too,” Miller said.

“She has a knack about being at the right place to receive the ball, and she will get it up. And then she’ll rebound and get it out, in transition.”

Compton said, “I mostly get the rebounds and the putbacks, those kind of things. … I like the set plays; it gives you the feeling you have the game under control. But I like to get people open [to create offense], and we can do that because we know where each other is going to be at all times.”

Before last week’s big games, she said, “I had to prepare myself mentally. People do that differently. Most players like to listen to music, pump themselves up. I’m over there where I will sit, and think. I like to say I ‘get myself mellow,’ get myself collected before the game.”

She comes from an athletic family. Her father and older brother and both her grandfathers, Don Redden and Bill Compton, were exceptional athletes in high school, she said.

She said about her dad and her brother, “They push me. They always tell me I can do better, even if I do my best. They help me with my game, (and) they provide encouragement and thoughtful advice, before I play, and after.”

It is safe to say that she is comfortable with her teammates as well.

“For the most part, I’ve grown up with these girls,” she said. “We have great team chemistry and a team bond. We feed off each other. We know what each person’s game is like; we know where we are on the court. It all comes together as a team.”

With every season, there are changes due to seniors having graduated and newcomers joining the unit. Compton contrasted the team’s focus at the beginning of the campaign with the home stretch of the regular season that is now under way.

“At the very start of the season, we try to work everything out,” she said. “Now, we’re trying to perfect everything we’ve been doing previously, to get ourselves ready for tournament time.”

“I think we’re very good this year,” she said. “I think we definitely have the talent. It’s all about meshing together, and teamwork.”

And unselfishness.

— Contact Tom Bone

at tbone@bdtonline.com

HONORABLE MENTION GIRLS

for Jan. 23-28

Bland County (1-0 during week): Paige Brinkley, 12 points.

Bluefield (1-2): Dazia Edwards, 21 points; Shelia Hopkins, 15 points in win over River View.

Council (0-2): Adriane Rasnake, 19 points; Haley Stevens, 21 points vs. Twin Valley.

Graham (0-2): Liz Workman, 20 points.

Grundy (3-0): Hannah Stiltner, 32 points; Morgan Hall, 41 points; Savannah Charles, 38 points.

Haysi (1-1): Brittney Roark, 35 points.

Honaker (1-1): Brooke Wolford, 28 points; Morgan Stevens, 22 points, 21 rebounds.

Hurley (1-2): Courtney Cook, 36 points; Shanice Justus, 24 points, 17 rebounds; Daisy Mullins, 31 points, 17 rebounds.

James Monroe (3-0): Melissa Johnston, 35 points, 20 rebounds; Kelsey Mann, 42 points.

Montcalm (1-3): Miranda Kendrick, 32 points; Leslie Kelley, 22 points; Hannah Johnson, 40 points.

Mount View (0-2): Ashley Belfiore, 26 points.

Narrows (2-1): Savanna Burton, 44 points; Kelsey Mosley, 20 points; Tiffany Perdue, 43 points.

PikeView (0-3): Hope Nester, 54 points.

Princeton (1-2): McKenzie Akers, 48 points; Marissa Mullins, 43 points; Hannah Preservati, 18 points in loss to S. Charleston.

Richlands (1-0): Cassidy Richardson, 19 points; Rachel Alley, 8 points, 10 rebounds. River View (2-2): Chelsey Dobbs, 49 points, 31 rebounds; Samantha Matney, 56 points; Tara Bowles, 35 points, 49 rebounds.

Summers County (2-0): Candace Brown, 86 points, 23 boards.

Tazewell (2-1): Taylor Catron, 37 points; Autumn Hash, 17 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks.

Twin Valley (2-0): Kaitlyn Jackson, 47 points; Rachel Horn, 30 points, 22 rebounds.

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