Tough as nails

Spencer point guard Brittany Peterson became the Tigers' first Division I recruit when she gave a verbal commitment to the University of North Dakota recently. But first, the 3-year starter takes over the leadership role for a returning state qualifier. (Photo by Michael Fischer)

There is no saga of overcoming the odds -- no tale of an overachiever doing the improbable.

Anybody looking for the story of the underdog when it comes to Brittany Peterson just won't find it. That role is saved for the person trying to defend her.

Plain and simple -- this girl's just darn good.

And, for anybody who knows Peterson, her talent and her success are no surprise.

"She's your typical gym rat. We're seeing the fruits of all her days and nights on the court and in the gym from when she was younger," said Spencer head coach Don Martindale.

Peterson has dedicated much of her young life to basketball, developing her skills in pick-up games at the local YMCA since she was in elementary school and competing on summer select teams throughout her high school career.

She truly epitomizes the example of a year-round player.

"She certainly paid the price to be as good as she is," Martindale commented. "It all comes from two words and that's hard work. It's been all based on her work ethic."

Peterson, Spencer's point guard, brought new meaning to the phrase "Going Green" recently, giving a verbal commitment to play basketball for Gene Roebuck and the green-clad University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

"Everything was completely perfect -- the campus, the coaches, the team. It's a good fit," said Peterson, who also received attention from Creighton and Truman State, among numerous other schools.

Roebuck, in his 22nd year at UND, turned the Fighting Sioux into one of the nation's most dominant programs as the all-time winningest coach in Division II women's basketball.

But, the veteran coach leads his team into a new challenge this season as the Fighting Sioux makes the leap to a Division I program.

That challenge is right up Peterson's alley.

"I've always wanted to play Division I since I was little," she said. "Division I is the highest level, and I've always wanted to be the best. I feel like I can bring a lot of creativity to the offensive end."

Peterson becomes Spencer's first Division I basketball recruit in the five-on-five era.

"What she possesses, you really don't coach," Martindale said. "She's a player who has great court awareness and great court vision. Other than her basketball skills and fundamentals, that is her No. 1 asset. She sees the floor so well, and she gets the ball to the open player time and time again."

Martindale also gives Peterson credit for her basketball IQ, pinpointing her as a "future coach," early in her freshman season.

Also a standout in the classroom, Peterson said she will likely major in exercise science and/or sports psychology with the goal of one day becoming a college basketball coach -- exactly as Martindale predicted.

"She's a player who has great instincts, and she understands the ins and outs of the game," Martindale commented. "She has a good knack of understanding what the defense is trying to do to us."

Prior to heading for UND, a school also rich in its hockey tradition, Peterson returns as the lone holdover from last year's starting five who led the Tigers to their first state tournament appearance since the 2003-04 season.

"The great thing about Brittany, too, is that she comes to practice every night to become a better player," Martindale said. "She never takes drills off. She works hard at them all the time."

Peterson, fellow senior Kelly Gerdeman, and junior Ally Mahrt are the only current players who have varsity experience for the Tigers. The departure of a handful of three- and four-year contributors opens the door for an additional eight juniors to step in.

"I look forward to it. I always like a challenge," Peterson said, referring to the Tigers' need to replace four All-Conference players, including one All-Stater. "Our team is completely different, which is good. It gives you different things to learn and different people to play with."

Given her experience, Peterson takes over as the unquestioned leader, a role that fits naturally considering her spot as the point guard.

"I've always looked at myself as a leader," Peterson said. "I lead by example anyway, but now it's getting to be more verbal with me being a senior and playing for three years before this year."

The juniors joining the varsity team have certainly been no strangers to success either, having lost only once during their high school careers -- a setback to 4A Sioux City North last season.

Instead of looking at blending in the new cast of characters as an obstacle, Peterson sees an opportunity.

"These girls have been playing together forever. Mixing Kelly and I in gives them a different look, especially with me being a point guard. We just have to get used to each other," Peterson said.

"Obviously we're not very tall, but that's fine," added Peterson, who stands as one of the tallest girls on the team at 5-foot-9. "We're a lot faster as a team. Our team speed is incredible now, which I like because I like to run the floor.

In her three years as a starter, Peterson has helped guide the Tigers to a 51-19 record and has been the catalyst of record-breaking offenses over the past two seasons. During that two-year span, Peterson and the Tigers shattered numerous school records, currently holding 25 records ranging from most points and most assists in a season to least turnovers in a season.

"It's been a continual improvement for Brittany," Martindale stated. "Her biggest improvement has been on the defensive end of the floor. And, she's really developed a nice shot from 3-point range. She's a legitimate 3-point threat now. Both of those things come from playing at the level she does in the offseason."

Peterson herself sits on the cusp of school history, entering the season just 37 assists shy of Amy Lawson's school record of 511 in a career. She is 275 points short of becoming only the second Spencer girl to score 1,000 points in her career.

Peterson, who is already in the top five in three all-time categories at Spencer, will likely end her career as one of five girls in the top 10 in four major categories, joining a group that includes current assistant coach Tara Davis and former 3-year running mate Marni Jacobsen.

Peterson stands an outside chance of becoming the first player in the top 10 of all five major stat categories.

"The assists have always been a big deal to me," Peterson admitted. "I get a lot more pumped from making a good pass than from hitting a good shot. Getting my teammates involved makes them feel better, it makes me feel better and we play a lot better together when we're gelling."

During her high school career, Peterson has often dazzled the Fieldhouse crowd with an array of no-look and half-court passes, consistently finding an open teammate when it seemed there was no room for a pass.

Most times, the only question that remains when Peterson leaves the court -- how'd she do that?

Those traits certainly drew the attention of a number of college programs. They've also given her a reputation as one of the best basketball players in town -- boys included.

Being likened to a boy might infuriate some girls, but not Peterson. She takes it as a compliment when someone tells her she plays like a boy.

"Boys are generally better at sports than girls, so it's OK with me. I've heard it a lot," she said. "I pretty much grew up playing basketball with the boys anyway."

Taking on the best competition she can find has always been typical of Peterson. In fact, it may be exactly what has helped her become the player she is.

"It's her competitive spirit that sets her apart from most players," Martindale said. "She certainly wants to prove to the opponent that she is the better player."

Point already proven. But, knowing Peterson, she's ready to prove it all over again.