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Senior spotlight: Amy Walton

Amy Walton is not known to be a prolific scorer.

She is not counted on to be a dominant rebounder.

She is not expected to be the primary ball-handler.

But take the 5-foot-10 senior forward away from the floor, and coach Michelle McNary said the Lady Vandals probably would not have a 4-1 record this season.

“Honestly, at the beginning of the season, I’m saying she’s my go-to person,” McNary said. “She seemed to have the confidence at the beginning, but if I need a basket, I can count on Amy to step up and make it.”

Walton – one of the two elder stateswomen on the girls basketball team – is counted on to be an all-around player for Vandalia, contributing points, rebounds, assists, steals and hard-nosed defense whenever she sees a good opportunity.

And the best part?

An unselfish Walton doesn’t mind the role she plays, because she knows even the smallest contributions matter in basketball.

“It’s not like there is pressure or anything,” Walton said. “I’m just there to do whatever I have to do.”

What she does is everything.

And when she does it is every game.

In a 59-47 win against Marquette Catholic last Monday, Walton only scored four points –  half of her season average of 7.8 ppg, which is ninth among area players – but she grabbed six rebounds, dished out two assists and had two steals.

Against Greenville on Monday, Walton scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds, and she played more minutes than any of her teammates in a 58-51 win against the Comets.

“I know I can count on her to take care of the ball, rebound, hit free throws and hit the 3,” McNary said. “She’s consistent in everything she does.”

Walton was that same role player last season – her first at the varsity level. Of her teammates, she ranked fourth in scoring (5.3 ppg), second in rebounding (4.6 rpg), third in assists (1.6 apg), and third in field-goal percentage (34.5 percent).

She will most likely rank around the same in those categories this season, too, but after having played as a role player for so long, Walton said she wouldn’t even want to be the superstar garnering the attention.

“It’s not like I have to be the best,” she said.

For one night, however, Walton wouldn’t mind being the best.

“I would like to have a double-double game,” she said. “I think that would be cool.”

McNary said Walton has yet to peak, so there is reason to believe that Walton’s dream could become reality before the season is over.

As a team leader, Walton said she enjoys being the helping hand to the younger players on the court and in practice.

“I like helping everybody and picking up everybody,” she said. “I like being the go-to person.”

In a few years, Walton will be the go-to person for a different group of students – the ones in her classroom.

She plans to attend college as an education major next fall with hopes of also playing volleyball, a sport in which she found plenty of success at Vandalia.

Walton has yet to pin down a university, but she is hoping to attend a private college, such as Illinois College.

For now, she will continue to be that consistent contributor for the Lady Vandals, taking the court on Thursday in hopes she can help the team match its win total from last season.

In doing that, Walton will make a season to remember.

Amy Walton: The senior is averaging 7.8 points per game, which is ninth among area players.

Senior Amy Walton goes up for two of her 11 points during a 58-51 win against Greenville on Monday.

Amy Walton dives after a loose ball on defense during Vandalia’s 58-51 win against Greenville on Monday.

Amy Walton shoots a 3-pointer during Vandalia’s 58-51 win against Greenville on Monday.

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