Spokane’s Raylen Wallace has seen a slew of players and coaches come and go during her four seasons as a starter for the Lady Owls.
The newest member of Spokane’s 1,000-point club, Wallace has played for three head coaches. She played for Garet Nunan during her freshman and sophomore seasons, Becky Justis as a junior and Autumn Thomas as a senior this winter.
“It’s been a lot,” Wallace said. “Each coach has wanted to run the court differently. It’s been fun to work with different people and learn how they see the court.”
She’s glad to close her career with Thomas.
“I love my coach,” Wallace said. “She has a bond with us that I haven’t had with any coach other than my father.”
Wallace’s former teammates included the likes of Paige Tate, Micayla McClure, Madi Bonzer and Shelby Byrne and her current teammates include a group of four sophomore starters that include her younger sister, Tristen.
With Spokane’s ‘Senior Night’ approaching, Wallace will be sure to thank the Lady Owls for many cherished memories. She values the experiences she’s shared with her past and current teammates.
“I’m going to miss the love and friendship I have had with all of them,” she said. “Those bonds are very important to me. I’ve gotten to have teammates different years, while growing up with some of them and see some of them go on and turn into amazing people.”
Over the years, Wallace’s personality on the floor and her role within the Lady Owls’ lineup have changed dramatically. She’s been a scorer all along and has added ball-handling and leadership to her responsibilities as a junior and senior. Her voice can also be heard now much more than when she was a freshman.
“I didn’t talk very much my freshman year. I was a little nervous being around bigger girls,” Wallace said. “Now, I feel like I’m in the lead role. The younger girls rely on me and I’m there for them. I’m making points and communicating on the court. I like being a point guard. I get to see what’s open around the court and what is open for my teammates and for me.”
Earlier this season, Wallace gained entry to Spokane’s 1,000-point club.
“It was a big accomplishment,” she said. “I thanked my family, God and my teammates for getting me to that point.”
