Exactly how do you determine if a player is having an impact on the success of his team? One way is to take a look at the statistics.

Forward Eric Thelander leads the Mt. Shasta Bears varsity basketball team in scoring, rebounding, and blocks. And in case you think the points come from being a ball hog, think again. Thelander also leads the team in assists, as well being second in steals.

Then there’s the Thelander “Thunder Dunk.”

The truth is that I’m not all that impressed by dunks. Most high school dunks are on breakaways, and they still just count as two points—same as a lay up.

However, when a player drives the lane and dunks over the defender, that’s impressive. Thelander can do it. Most other players around these parts can’t.

There’s no doubt that Thelander is making an impact, and has earned an Impact Player Award. Congratulations.

The Impact Player Award is given on a monthly basis and goes to Siskiyou County high school athletes, male or female, that have had a significant impact on the success of their team. I select the players based on my own observations, often in consultation with the player’s coaches, as I did in this case.

A total of four awards are given each month and are not school specific; they can go to a player at any school that Siskiyou Youth covers. Winners receive Impact T-shirts that were designed by Golden Grotto. The T-shirts and award are cosponsored by Siskiyou Youth and NorCal Classic Hits radio 102.3/101.7.

Thelander joins Etna Lady Lion Tandy Thackeray as a December winner. I’ll announce another by this weekend.