When Cedar Park Christian senior Hailey Carlson gets a basketball in her hands, get out of her way. Yes, she’s a team player, but she also is intent on one main purpose.

“Normally I’m thinking to drive to the basket or pass to whomever’s open, but it’s mostly to score,” she said.

Carlson, a 5-10 wing for the Cedar Park Christian — MLT Lions, averages 20 points per game for a team that scores an average 43 points per game.

Carlson’s scoring proficiency is even more remarkable considering this is her first year back with the Lions after almost three years away playing high school sports in Canada.

Carlson, an Edmonds native, started playing basketball in elementary school and found some playing time with the Meadowdale Middle School girls’ basketball teams before entering the private school in Mountlake Terrace in 2012. But her freshman year at Cedar Park Christian was interrupted when her family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

While in Winnipeg, Carlson played varsity high school basketball where she “was a big star,” said CPC-MLT girls basketball coach Bill Kelley.

Carlson believes the confidence she has gained on the basketball court may be in part a result of another sport she fell in love with while living in Canada: rugby.

“Rugby was my favorite sport,” Carlson said. “It was so fun.”

“I really like the (Seattle) Seahawks, so rugby is close (to football),” she continued. “It was really fun and I like tackling people. I like the contact. In basketball it’s not allowed as much, so that’s why when I played rugby I was excited that you could actually knock people over and it’s not a foul or anything.”

In describing Carlson’s efforts on the basketball court this year, Coach Kelley uses terms that can easily translate to the play of a rugby player.

“She does some great things,” he said. “She’s very fast, aggressive, strong, and very competitive. She’s like a freight train out there.”

Carlson compliments her aggressive playing nature with other abilities on the court.

“She can rebound pretty darn well. Her crossovers, a lot of times, are really good,” Kelley said.

He also added that she will often get on hot streaks and score points in bunches.

“She’s had several games now of 30 or more points,” Kelley said.

With the CPC-MLT Lions’ season — and her senior year in high school — winding down, Carlson has started thinking ahead to what lies ahead for her. Basketball may or may not be in that future.

“If the college I go to — or another college wants me to play basketball — possibly, but I really don’t know exactly what I’m doing yet,” Carlson said.

Carlson is considering opportunities after graduation to go overseas with a mission group or volunteer organization.

“I really want to take a year off and start volunteering, finding myself and helping others,” she shared. “That’s something I’m really passionate about. I feel like it’s a good time to do it, after high school, when you really have a year or two to do it.”

But before Carlson heads out on the next stage of her life, the senior is keeping her attention on her studies and her play at CPC-MLT.

“I want to give 175 percent, all that I have, because this is my last year,” she said.

Kelley is glad that his top player still has her focus on basketball right now.

“She’s made such a difference for us this year and we’re just so happy that she’s with us,” he said.

–By Doug Petrowski