It’s not like Kara Jenkins hasn’t been here before.
She was a member of Auburn Riverside’s back-to-back 3A girls basketball title squads in 2007 and 2008.
However, this year was different for Jenkins. The 5-foot-8 senior guard was an integral part of a 29-0 season, which was capped by the Ravens’ 56-52 championship game win over Mead in the 4A state girls basketball tournament last weekend.
“The 4A is definitely a lot more competitive,” she said. “Being a senior and a starter, there was a lot more weight on my shoulders to be a threat and one of the building blocks of the team. Compared to freshman and sophomore year, I was just going along for the ride.”
Although she might not have been the driver for this year’s squad, she was definitely in a key passenger seat, joining the Ravens’ Mercedes Wetmore and Kat Cooper as Sporting News All-American honorable-mention performers.
It all started for Jenkins back in the fifth grade, when she first turned out for the Lady Ravens club program run by Rick Bray and Denn Pretz.
She went on to help Olympic Middle School achieve a 10-0 record as an eighth-grader, beating future teammates Wetmore and Taylor Wofford from North Tapps Middle School, and Jelisa Pretz and Carlene Penor from Mt. Baker.
At Auburn Riverside, Jenkins was a part of the school’s two 3A title teams. In ’09, she contributed to the Ravens’ West Central District III title. But the Ravens had to settle for fourth in the 4A state tournament.
“That was a huge disappointment,” Jenkins said. “I remember that next day of school, we had our walkthrough and I didn’t talk to anyone. I was very stone-faced.”
While the ’09 team didn’t come together completely, this season’s squad did.
“Even though our team had differences, we came together with the common goal of winning state,” Jenkins said. “Last year we fell apart. We let things get in the way. This year, we were able to hold each other accountable and not fall to pieces.”
Jenkins, who was called the “mom of the team” by teammates, was a big part of the Ravens’ newfound togetherness.
“A lot of people called me the glue of the team, and that’s a very high compliment for me,” she said.
In addition to coming together as a squad, the team also gelled under first-year coach Terry Johnson.
“We had trust issues, and he knew it coming in,” Jenkins said. “But he proved himself to me the first week of practice. He had us all buying in.”
Jenkins now will prepare for her next step – at Idaho State University. Recognized for her defense in high school, Jenkins anticipates she will have to change her playing style with the Bengals.
“Coach Seton Sobolewski wants me to be more of a scoring threat. We’ll see,” Jenkins said. “There are going to be two other girls ahead of me for the position, but I’ve got as much of a chance as either of them.”
For now, it’s on to the fastpitch season for Jenkins – who is the captain of the Ravens – and dealing with the emptiness of a completed high school basketball career.
“Talking with a bunch of my teammates, we don’t know what to do with ourselves right now,” Jenkins said. “It’s like we feel basketball should still be happening. It’s bittersweet, but now I’m ready to go on to the next chapter, which is Idaho State.”
