No quit in point guard on Brooklyn Center girls' basketball team

Keanndra Auld won't lead the Brooklyn Center girls' basketball team to a 20-victory season. No games will need to be stopped in honor of her 1,000th career point. By season's end she could be one of five players in the entire program.

But quit? Auld refuses.

Auld, a senior point guard, is in for another busy winter. She earns straight-As in the classroom and holds a part-time job. On the court, Auld will run the Centaurs offense and guard the oppositions' best ballhandlers.

Her reward will not be as tangible as membership in the National Honor Society or a paycheck, however. Auld will do her best to inspire and grow a program that canceled part or all of its varsity season twice in the past six years because of low numbers and a lack of success.

Auld helped a novice player shoot free throws at practice early last week. By week's end, the player was gone.

"There's still frustration now," Auld said. "But knowing that some of the younger girls on the team look up to me, I'm trying to stick it out for them. And if I didn't play, I probably would be upset with myself."

Auld did not start playing basketball until eighth grade. She rose from team manager to varsity as a freshman. Brooklyn Center planned to cancel its varsity season in Auld's sophomore season (2012-13), but new coach Mike Contreras scheduled seven varsity games.

A new leader emerged as well. Contreras said he named Auld captain midseason because she "stepped up and communicated to her teammates on and off the court when none of the four seniors would. She has never quit on anything or any teams. Her attitude is great."

"I guess I just kind of slipped into the role," Auld said. "Each day I ended up doing more and more."

Her own late start in basketball helps Auld find patience when working with teammates.

"I guess you could say that," Auld said. "I never really thought about it that way. I'm also trying to help out for the future. It's been like this for a few years now when I've been here and if people don't start to get better, it could always be like this."

Participation numbers in girls' basketball have been low, Contreras said. He counted 17 girls at the first day of practice. Then it was 13. Then 10.

Auld shares her coach's determination. Only a knee injury suffered last season kept her off the court. She averaged about 10 points and six assists per game, earning all-conference honorable mention for the 2-24 Centaurs.

Showing her athletic ability, Auld traded track and field for softball last spring despite having never swung a bat and earned all-conference honorable mention honors. Her slap-bunting and speed made her a factor. Her spirit made her a leader.

"I guess I do it to not let myself down," Auld said. "That keeps me going. And in every sport I play there are two or three girls that are really dedicated like I am and I wouldn't want them to quit on me, either."

Adept at dribbling, directing teammates and dishing for assists, Auld worked on her shot during the summer. She hoisted up 500 shots during one evening session.

"I still get frustrated with myself when I can't do something as well as I want to do it, but I keep growing each year," Auld said.