CROWN POINT — Before a game was played this girls basketball season, Cassie Pruzin realized she needed to score more from the point guard position.

Crown Point coach Tom May confirmed that he asked his junior court leader to step up her game from the scoring aspect. She is not the only area player that made such a statement and was asked by her coach to improve in such a way.

But Pruzin has proved that the word “leader” fits her to a “T” by following through on her promise to herself and her coach.

“It’s something the team needs for us to win and it gives the team a boost,” she said. “I’ve always had the opportunity to score but I wouldn’t take the shots.”

A lot of the hesitation stems from freshman year when one of her teammates was Alex Webster. The future college-bound star was the primary scoring threat for the Bulldogs, leaving a first-year point guard to do the little things to help the team.

Last year, Pruzin still had that mentality of pass first, shoot second, even though she was the team’s best offensive threat after Webster’s graduation. She just didn’t know it yet.

“It took some readjusting last year,” said Pruzin, who led the area in steals and was among the top assists leaders, but only averaged 8.8 points per game. “Leadership has been part of being a point guard, but I realize I have to score more now.”

But instead of changing her game to fit in more scoring, Pruzin just added that aspect without taking away from the rest of her ability.

She’s not only increased that scoring average, but she has doubled it (17.7 through 11 games) while still maintaining high standards in assists (6.0 apg), steals (7.4 spg) and rebounds (5.6 rpg).

“One of the goals we set forth was that I thought she had the potential to progress each year and play at the collegiate level,” May said. “She’s been able to distribute the ball, rebound and defend. But quite honestly, you have to be able to step up and shoot the ball.”

Part of the ’readjustment’ Pruzin had to go through might have been constituted by some reverse psychology from May. Instead of convincing her to forgo the point guard mentality, he turned it around on her.

“She’s always wanted to get all the players involved,” he said. “But I emphasized if she looks to score right away, that can also get the other kids open shots as the game progresses, and gets them involved anyway.”

Just call him Tom May, Doctor of Psychiatry, because that mentality sure is working.

Not only is Pruzin scoring more, but she is also taking the clutch shots like a number one option is supposed to do.

She drained a memorable 3-pointer at the buzzer to defeat Lake Central a couple weeks ago, and took over in the second half against Merrillville last Friday to almost lead the Bulldogs to an upset victory over the Pirates. She missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer that would have tied the contest.

“The hard thing is to convince good players that everyone in the gym knows they’re going to take the shot,” May added. “We have to make them realize a few passes can get the ball back to that player for the shot.”

Contact Steve T. Gorches

at 648-3141 or by e-mail

at sgorches@post-trib.com.