As the calendar turns toward region tournament time in Monterey, senior Haylee Trevethan said she is playing with purpose.
The Monterey Wildcats basketball player enters the final month of her high school career with more than box scores on her mind. Trevethan has been a steady contributor throughout her time in a Lady Wildcats uniform, filling the stat sheet with scoring, rebounding and defensive energy. But this season carries a deeper weight.
Two years ago, Trevethan watched her older brother lose the ability to continue playing the sport he loved.
“He loved the sport so much and the sport he loved got taken away from him,” Trevethan said. “By me now being a senior knowing like I probably won’t be able to go on and play ball like this is my last year to be able to do what I love.”
Instead of counting the days left in her high school career with sadness, Trevethan said she has turned them into fuel. Her approach this season reflects a player determined not to take a single possession for granted.
Trevethan said her growth has not happened in isolation. She has played under head coach Randall Phillips since the fifth grade, a continuity that has shaped both her skill set and her confidence.
“He really taught me basically everything I know,” Trevethan said. “He teaches me to have more courage in myself and just play how I know to play.”
Trevethan said she plays with a calm understanding of the game, a reflection of years spent learning the system and developing under familiar guidance. Trevethan said family remains her anchor.
“It’s very important to have family around me when I’m playing to support me and lift me up when I’m not doing as well,” Trevethan said. “It just motivates me to do better.”
As the postseason approaches, Trevethan said she understands what these final weeks represent. For Trevethan, this last run is about honoring her brother’s love for the game. It is about gratitude for a coach who helped build her foundation. It is about family in the bleachers. And it is about squeezing every ounce of joy from the sport she has loved since childhood.
The clock may be winding down on her high school career. But Trevethan said she is making sure every second counts.
