Versatile Palmer senior earns chance to play college basketball

PALMER — Catherine Uschmann’s senior season can’t be measured in points per game.

In arguably the biggest win during her four-year varsity career, a 65-45 victory over Wasilla in the Northern Lights Conference semifinals that pushed the Moose into the 4A girls state basketball tournament for the first time since 2012, Uschmann scored two points.

But Uschmann’s value to her team was not found on the scoresheet.

“Cat is at the head of this thing. Even though she has given up her points for the sake of the team, she is at the head of this thing,” Palmer head coach Keith Williams said after the win.

And that’s exactly how Williams summarized Uschmann’s high school career as the Moose celebrated the senior’s next opportunity in her basketball journey. Uschmann signed her National Letter of Intent to play women’s college basketball at North Idaho College during a ceremony at Palmer High School earlier this month.

“She gave up so many stats,” Williams said. “She’s the ultimate team player. She’ll be terribly missed.”

Uschmann said she takes pride in other parts of her game.

“I love assisting,” Uschmann said. “When I make a really good pass, that’s the best feeling for me.”

Williams said that mentality and intelligence, combined with the natural ability to score when needed, adds to her versatility.

“Her basketball I.Q. is off the charts,” Williams said. “She’s someone who can play point guard or off guard, someone who understands defensive principles. She’s someone who could assist one game, score another game, rebound another game, and then post up.”

She also earned first-team all-conference and second-team all-state honors.

Ushmann was the lone senior on a Palmer squad that advanced to the NLC title game and earned its first trip to a state tournament in about a decade.

“Words can’t express the importance of just her leadership and the maturity level for the rest of the girls to see,” Williams said. “There are two types of leaders, leaders by words and leaders by actions. She’s phenomenal at both.”

Uschmann said she’s ready to continue her career.

“I’m really excited for this next step,” Uschmann said.

Uschmann said North Idaho fit what she was looking for.

“My main goal is to go somewhere I am going to play every single year, or get the opportunity to play,” Uschmann said.

NIC, a two-year program, is a member of the Northwest Athletic Conference. Uschmann is now the third Valley player to join the Cardinals women’s program in recent years. The 2019-20 team featured Colony graduate Alex Carlton and Wasilla graduate Cheyenne Green.