Girls’ Player of the Week : She Stays Around the Court : For Tami Chick Return to Basketball Leads to Stardom

Two years ago, Tami Chick, then a sophomore at Huntington Beach High School, walked into the first day of basketball practice ready for some fun and games. What she found was not amusing.

“I don’t think Tami knew exactly what she was getting into,” Coach Kathy Doyle said.

“She’s a great athlete naturally, but my practices are pretty tough,” Doyle said. “There’s more running and a lot more discipline than most of the girls were used to at the time.”

So the next day, Chick checked out. The school’s athletic director told Doyle that Chick was going to try soccer instead.

“I saw Tami standing outside the gym with her soccer cleats on,” Doyle said. “I realized right then I was watching a great basketball player get away.”

After a short heart-to-heart, Chick changed her mind and changed her shoes. Basketball has remained her No. 1 sport ever since.

“She really opened my eyes,” said Chick, a senior forward. “I was real confused at the time. I wasn’t familiar with the coach or the situation. But once we worked it out, I improved so much, it was incredible.”

Chick, The Times’ player of the week, set a Marina/Edison tournament single-game scoring record with 39 points to lead the Oilers to a 75-67 victory over El Toro last Wednesday night in the third-place game at Marina.

The former record of 33 points was set by El Toro’s Robin Holmes in 1981.

Chick was 17 of 26 (70.8%) from the field and 5 of 5 from the free throw line. She averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds through the four-game tournament.

Though Chick credits much of her record-setting performance to her teammates--especially point guard Stefanie Pemper, who helped Chick with 16 assists--Doyle said it was only a small indication of Chick’s potential.

“Tami has improved in every game through every year,” Doyle said. “Her dedication is the main reason for that. But she also has so much raw athletic ability, I don’t think there’s any stopping her.”

At Huntington Beach, Chick played softball (two years), volleyball (four years, including last season as an all-Sunset League selection), track and field (one year, becoming a league champion in the high jump, triple jump and 110-meter hurdles) and basketball.

This season, she is averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds a game for the Oilers (7-5).

Chick, who signed a letter of intent with Cal Poly Pomona, says she’s happy she made the decision to stay with basketball.

“I know now it can’t always be fun and games,” she said. “But I’m happy with the way it’s gone. I’ve realized that the best times of my life have been on the court.”

Tami Chick

Huntington Beach

Position: Forward.

Height, Class: 5-11, Sr.

Last Week: Chick set a Marina/Edison tournament single-game scoring record with 39 points to lead the Oilers to a 75-67 victory over El Toro Wednesday night in the third-place game at Marina. Chick averaged 18 points and 8 re bounds through the tournament.

Season: Chick is averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds a game.