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That's what makes Stevie Fortna, Kate Pastal, Emily Brandt, Chelsea Ebersole and Carly Richardson good, productive basketball players.
But that's only part of the reason why they make up the 2011-12 Lebanon Daily News All-County Girls' Basketball Team.
Although their personal accomplishments this past season were considerable, the aforementioned quintet's most impressive attributes were displayed within the team concept. In short, they made their teams better not just through statistical achievements, but also through countless intangible contributions that won't show up in any box score or stat sheet.
Here's a little bit more about the members of this year's all-county team and how they earned their spots:
Stevie Fortna, Lebanon Catholic
The composed, heady senior floor leader led the Beavers to their 16th District Three Class A title with an epic 36-point outburst in the championship-game win over defending district and state champ Steel-High at the Giant Center. But more important than her point production that night was Fortna's confident, assured demeanor against a Rollers squad that can be an intimidating bunch to face, given the presence of junior point guard/scoring machine Malia Tate-DeFreitas.
Tate-DeFreitas went off for 50 points in that game, but Fortna's performance was in the end more impressive because it served to lift the level of play of her teammates
In all, Fortna averaged 17.3 points, 5.1 assists, 3.8 steals and 3.0 rebounds for Catholic in 2011-12 and more often than not was the best player on the floor in a given game, whether it showed up in the box score or not.
Kate Pastal, Lebanon Catholic
Fortna's backcourt partner in crime, senior "2" guard Pastal, was the perfect sidekick for point guard Fortna, and an even 50 percent of the reason Lebanon Catholic coach Patti Hower believed her two guards were among the best in District Three.
Rarely spectacular but always steady and consistent, Pastal averaged 12.9 points per game, 3.4 assists and just a shade under two steals per contest while shooting a superb 49 percent from the floor and a team-best 74 percent from the foul line.
She was also often charged with guarding the opposing team's best perimeter scorer, making her offensive contributions all the more impressive.
Chelsea Ebersole, Palmyra
The lone senior starter and emotional leader of a Palmyra squad that captured the championship of the highly competitive Mid-Penn Keystone Division and advanced to the District Three Class AAA semifinals, Ebersole enjoyed far and away the best season of her four-year varsity career this past season.
In addition to leading a deep and balanced Cougar team in scoring with 12.1 points per game, Ebersole drained a county-best 62 3-pointers, three of which came in the second half of Palmyra's opening-round district win over pesky Susquehannock. When Palmyra needed a big bucket in a tight game, it often looked to Ebersole to provide it.
An underclassmen-dominated squad, the Cougars should again be in the thick of title contention next season, but the contributions of Ebersole will be sorely missed.
Carly Richardson, Palmyra
Though just a sophomore, Richardson, a 5-10 forward, often performed like a seasoned veteran, averaging 10.6 points per game as an inside-outside presence (24 3-pointers, team-best 6.3 rebounds per game) for Ron Berman's club.
Also a starter as a freshman, Richardson did some of her best work in the Cougars' biggest games, tallying 14 key points in a huge late-season win over Lower Dauphin, then exploding for 21 points and 10 rebounds in a tense district quarterfinal victory over West York that also lifted Palmyra into the state playoffs.
And she's only halfway through her career. Should be interesting to see what Richardson can do her last two years on the high-school hardwood in Palmyra.
Emily Brandt, Northern Lebanon
Nobody, with the possible exception of Fortna to Lebanon Catholic, meant more to their team than Brandt did to the Vikings in 2011-12.
In addition to averaging 15.4 points per game, Brandt all but dragged an injury-riddled Northern Lebanon club to the brink of the Lancaster-Lebanon Section Three title and into the L-L and District Three playoffs with her tireless all-around play at both ends of the floor.
The definitive Brandt performance came in a late-season win over eventual section champ Manheim Central in which she scored 12 straight points in one stretch late in the game on the way to a game-high 27 points in NL's 38-34 OT win.
She can shoot the "3," drive, pull up at the foul line or score in transition with equal proficiency, and is a superb passer and defender to boot.
2011-12 LEBANON DAILY NEWS
ALL-COUNTY GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM .
First Team
Stevie Fortna, Lebanon Catholic
Emily Brandt, Northern Lebanon
Chelsea Ebersole, Palmyra
Carly Richardson, Palmyra
Kate Pastal, Lebanon Catholic
Second Team
Victoria Siebecker, Annville-Cleona
Maddie Good, Palmyra
Abby Shay, Lebanon Catholic
Taylor Ford, Cedar Crest
Elaina Wanamaker, Annville-Cleona
Honorable Mention
Alex Siebecker, Annville-Cleona
Cheyenne Hassler, Elco
Callie Good, Palmyra
Kait Carmo, Palmyra
Mikayla DiAngelis, Northern Lebanon
Shaela Shellehamer, Lebanon
Sadie Eisenhour, Lebanon
