Coaches can talk until they're blue in the face about the talent level of their own players, but the true measure of an athlete's ability is probably best described by his or her opponents.

Kaysie Brittenham's Suburban Lakes League rivals might dread facing her, but they respect what Lake's 5-foot-9 girls basketball standout brings to the court.

“She's the best player in the SLL,” said Genoa senior Julie Swartzmiller, whose Comets lost to Brittenham's Flyers three times last season. “She can shoot inside, she can go left, go right, go outside. She's an amazing defender. I've played with her on travel teams and she's one of the nicest girls I know.”

When Brittenham graduates next spring, she will be considered one of the finest female athletes to ever walk the halls at Lake. Brittenham, who also plays softball and volleyball, is on pace to finish her high school career with 12 varsity letters.

She also has a 4.5 GPA and is on schedule to be her senior class valedictorian. On Dec. 7, Brittenham scored her 1,000th career point in Lake's 49-41 victory over visiting Anthony Wayne.

“She works harder than anybody I've ever coached,” third-year Lake coach Denny Meyer said. “In two-plus years, I've never seen her go slow at anything. She goes as hard as she can at everything. That's why she's such a good student, too. Anything she does, she does 100 percent. She's just a quiet kid who goes out and works hard.”

Lake senior, Kaysie Brittenham (3). (Press photo by Harold Hamilton/HEHphotos.lifepics.com)

Brittenham said she got a lot of her drive to succeed from her parents, Jane, a registered nurse, and Garth, a social worker.

“They always taught me to give 110 percent with everything I do,” she said. “I've been blessed with a lot and I'd be wasting it if I didn't do my best. I don't want to do that.”

Brittenham entered this season needing 78 points to reach 1,000 for her career. Kris Livingston, a 1976 graduate who scored 1,198 career points, is the only other Lake girl to reach that milestone.

Brittenham got point No. 1,000 during a 25-point, 10-rebound performance against Anthony Wayne. The referees stopped the game, late in the third quarter, and presented Brittenham with a game ball.

“I was worried about how we would play after that,” Meyer said. “Kaysie ran the ball over to her parents and the rest of the team was in the huddle. Kaysie came back and told the team, 'Now we have to finish this.' ”

That comment was classic Kaysie.

“I'm not that concerned with myself, the records I set or whatever,” she said. “But it was definitely cool to become one of only two Lake girls to get 1,000.”

The Flyers improved to 5-0 with Tuesday's win over Otsego, pushing Lake's regular-season winning streak to 49 straight. As a four-year starter Brittenham has been a huge part of that streak, but she doesn't remember the last team to beat the two-time defending SLL champion Flyers during the regular season.

“We've kind of talked about (the streak) as a team in the locker room, what our goals are for the season,” Brittenham said. “A lot of that is becoming more important this year because it's the last year of the SLL. That (streak) and winning the SLL mean a lot.”

Last season, Brittenham was the unanimous choice as the SLL Player of the Year after averaging 15.8 points and 4.8 rebounds a game and leading Lake with 80 steals. She was also named special mention All-Ohio in Division III.

Brittenham is averaging more than 21 points and five rebounds a game this season, but Meyer said he has seen the most improvement in Brittenham's effort on defense.

“Last year I sat her one game for a little bit because of her defense,” Meyer said. “She's taken that to heart. Right now we're putting her on the best player from the other team, which we had never done in the past. She's really taken that challenge and she's playing great. She just loves the challenge.”

Brittenham, a team co-captain along with senior Carly Huston, is also putting more effort into being a team leader.

“I knew this year more than ever I was going to have to step up and be a leader, through my actions and what I say,” Brittenham said. “A lot of the girls look up to me, so I'm always trying to encourage them. I've kind of been the silent leader the whole time, and this year I can be more vocal. I like helping people.”

Brittenham's plan is to major in pharmacy and play basketball in college, most likely at the D-II or D-III level. Meyer said Brittenham is aware that college coaches attend every Lake game to watch her play.

“I don't think about who's in the stands,” Brittenham said. “I focus on the game and just play like I normally would.”

Brittenham also knows that as class valedictorian, she will be expected to address her peers at graduation.

“That would definitely be cool to have the chance to give that final speech,” she said. “I've always tried to be No. 1 in the classroom since middle school. I wasn't concerned that I was No. 1, but all the work I put into it, that's what I got out of it.”

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