Jake West leads the Shasta Cascade League leading Weed Cougars in assists and rebounds, and averages nearly 10 points per game. But, those stats are not why Jake West received an Impact Player Award.

West’s impact on the success of the Cougars can’t be measured with stats. There is no statistical category for basketball savvy—knowing what to to do, when to do it, and how. There is also no stat category for clutch plays—no category for game-winning or game-tying plays.

Twice this season, West has brought his Cougars from the brink of defeat to victory in the final seconds of the game.

Against Trinity, trailing 45-44, West drove the lane for a basket with four seconds on the clock, giving the Cougars the win, 46-45. When the first option on the game-winning play wasn’t open, West knew exactly what to do. There was no panic, no rush—just ice-water in the veins.

After the game, West didn’t give a canned response to questions. Instead he gave a detailed description of what the coach wanted on the play, how the play unfolded, and why he did what he did. It was obvious he knows the game.

Of course, that West has a high level of basketball sense should come as no surprise. Gramps is Mike “Silver Fox” Carpine, Weed’s head basketball coach. Mom, Alisa Cummings, coaches at Weed Elementary. His pop, Bobby West, has also spent considerable time as a coach. You could say basketball savvy is in West’s genes.

The Trinity game wasn’t West’s only clutch performance this season. He also came up big against Etna. Weed trailed Etna 58-56, when West again took the ball to the hoop. This time the basket, with six seconds left in regulation, sent the game to overtime. Weed eventually won the contest, 67-62. Guess who scored what proved to be the game-winning basket?

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.

A total of four awards may be 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 SiskiyouYouth.com and NorCal Classic Hits radio, KCWH, 102.3/101.7