SELBY – While playing defense will always be her passion, Kendell Sawinsky is thriving in her new role on offense this season.

The senior for Herreid-Selby Area has evolved from a pass-first point guard to a dominant scorer for one of the top Class B girls’ basketball teams in the area. The Wolverines recently won 10 games in a row and Sawinsky was a major reason for it, scoring 29 points in one victory alone.

“Last year I was a bit more of a pass-first player and a little bit afraid to shoot,” Sawinsky said, “but this year when I get open looks, I’m ready to shoot, ready to attack whenever I can.”

After being at the hub of a standout squad that finished fifth at last year’s state tournament, Sawinsky knew that the team would be in need of scoring after most of the starters graduated. That translated into hours spent working on her shot last summer preparing for the current season.

“I did think about this after last year and this summer,” Sawinsky said. “I’m on a summer team. Just being there and trying to envision this season and trying to shoot more and be more active on offense. I spent a lot of time and I worked on my shot quite a bit this summer.”

While Sawinsky has developed into a dangerous shooter, the transition was anything but easy. However, as the year has progressed, she has gotten more comfortable in her new role.

“In year’s past she was not one of our main scoring options. She was more of distributor,” said her dad and HSA coach Steve Sawinsky. “This year, especially early in the year, that role of being a scorer was hard for her.”

Now, Sawinsky is making it harder for opponents to guard her. It’s come to the point where she is facing defenses specifically designed to stop her.

“Actually, I got faced-guarded for the first time (Tuesday) night,” Sawinsky said. “It didn’t feel that great.”

Maybe not, but it is a measure of respect reserved for those who can truly cause issues for opposing defenses.

If there is one person who can appreciate quality defense it is Sawinsky, who owns school records for deflections and steals. It is something she takes a lot of pride in.

“I enjoy playing defense,” she said. “I like getting up in people’s business and harassing them. It’s so fun for me.”

While Sawinsky’s point production is new this season, her defense has been a staple for years.

“She’s been really good offensively his year, but honestly defensively she’s been fantastic at times,” said Coach Sawinsky, noting she is often placed on the other team’s best player. “She’s almost been a blanket. She can move latterly, has very good balance, understands angles. This team in general, I just have been amazed and so proud of watching this team defensively. They like to get after it. They defend as hard as they possibly can.”

Of course, the Wolverines have a bit of incentive for playing good defense.

Coach Sawinsky rewards them each time somebody takes a charge.

“I made a deal with them. If we get a charge in a game, it’s donuts on me, and if we get four charges in a game, it’s ice cream cake on me,” he said. “They get pretty fired up when we take a charge and you hear the whole team screaming ‘Donuts!’ So we’ve got multiple girls who are willing to take that hit.”

Sawinsky said the team practices safe ways to take charges. It is not only good for team morale, it’s also good for one area business.

“The guy over at DQ is pretty happy,” the coach said. “He’s like, keep playing well so I can sell more ice cream cakes.”

The Wolverines who had a 1-3 start to their season are currently 11-5 with wins over teams that were rated in both the South Dakota and North Dakota polls. The coach said ball security has played a key role in that. Of course, he has a point guard that has plenty of experience in handling the ball.

“She’s in the mix of that,” Coach Sawinsky said of his daughter. “That’s always been kind of a strong suit of hers. Her assist to turnover ratio is just out of this world.”

Sawinsky, who is headed to Hastings, Neb. to play college basketball next year, still has some unfinished business this season. She is hoping to help guide her team back to the state tourney, something some may have thought unlikely after losing so many quality players to graduation.

Coach Sawinsky said he has two goals for his team: play hard and have fun.

This year’s group of girls is doing both and turning heads in the process.

“We got a group of girls that wants to do good. They try hard and put in a lot of effort,” the team’s new scoring-leader said. “Even in practices they show up and put work in. We have really good chemistry. We’re always just picking each other up. It’s been really fun.”

And if it includes donuts and ice cream cakes, so much the better.