Palmer standout finds her hoops paradise

PALMER — If basketball is Taylor Blake’s first love, spending time in Hawaii is certainly not far down the list.

Now Blake, one of the most prolific scorers in the history of Palmer High School girls’ basketball, has the chance to combine both loves. The Palmer High senior has committed to Hawaii Pacific University and will join the Division II Sea Warriors for the 2013-14 season.

“It’s a dream come true,” Blake said.

Born into a basketball family, Blake has dreamt of the opportunity to play at high levels since her days running up and down the floor in Valley youth leagues. The chance to play for a school in her favorite place to visit makes the opportunity ideal for the 5-foot-8 shooting guard. Blake, who has grandparents in Hawaii, recently made her 13th trip to the islands.

“The first year I went to the school, I fell in love with the campus,” Blake said of Hawaii Pacific.

Blake said other schools were interested, and she was scheduled to visit St. Martin’s, another school with a Division II program. But Hawaii Pacific proved to be the right fit for her future home.

Blake, who finished her high school career among the leading career scorers in PHS girls basketball history, has a chance to help a Hawaii Pacific offense that averaged an impressive 73 points per game during the 2012-13 season.

“I love the Hawaii Pacific style of basketball,” Blake said.

Blake said coaches told her she’d have to earn her playing time, but would be given the opportunity to challenge for minutes.

Former Palmer head coach Paul Reid, who coached Blake during the player’s four years on the Moose varsity squad, said he’s excited for Blake and her opportunity to play college basketball.

“It’s a combination of her love for basketball and her love for Hawaii,” Reid said. “It’s a perfect fit for her.”

Reid also likes her potential to succeed in the Division II Pac West Conference.

“It’s a level she can step up and make an impact,” Reid said. “I’ve said all along, Taylor’s a kid who’s still developing, still getting better. She’s so darn athletic.”

Reid said HPU’s style of play is also a good fit for Blake.

“She will probably get a good opportunity, the type of scorer she is,” Reid said.

Blake, who made her first varsity start as a freshman, achieved a rare feat in Alaska girls high school basketball, eclipsing the 1,000-point mark early in her senior season. Blake finished a stellar four-year career with 1,346 points, which places her among the school’s scoring elite in the history of the program.

Lyle Busbey, who was recently named the new head coach of the Palmer program, said he believes Blake stands among the top two or three career scorers in Palmer girls basketball history. Busbey, an assistant on the staff in 2012-13, served as head coach of the PHS program for 10 years (1994-2003) and first joined the program about 20 years ago.

No official program records have been kept, but Busbey said Palmer High graduate Jeanette (Christiansen) Perdue is the team’s all-time leading scorer, with more than 1,500 career points. Laura (Lee) Kenny, who hit 67 three-pointers as a senior while leading the Moose to a 1999 4A state title, scored the most points during Busbey’s long tenure as head coach, Busbey said.

Busbey has seen his share of talented scorers during his long career coaching basketball in the Valley, and said Blake has a unique ability to put away the basketball.

“Just her ability to penetrate and finish inside is pretty impressive,” Busbey said. “Taylor got a lot of tough points in the paint against taller players. That’s impressive for her as a guard to be able to score in the paint against post players.”

Blake hit the 1,000-point mark during Palmer’s 50-33 win over Craig in the Clark Cochrane Classic in December.

“I got to keep that game ball,” said Blake, who scored 32 points that night. “It was so unreal. It was such a huge accomplishment.”

Reid said Blake’s average of 20 points per game as a senior is also an impressive feat.

“As a girls basketball season gets deeper, the defense gets better the scoring is less,” Reid said. “The defense gets better than the offense. She’s a dynamic enough player to keep up that pace. That speaks for itself.”

Blake received a substantial scholarship package that includes both academic and athletic scholarships. Blake has a 3.95 grade point average, and is expected to enroll in the school’s pre-medicine and pharmacy programs.