’21 Valerie Panuco defense fuels Whitney

Valerie Panuco has always impressed me with her defense since I first caught her heading into her freshman season at Whitney HS and over her career, she’s made her mark as one of the district’s top defensive players and the pressure she applies on that end helped fuel the teams 26 win season last year. This season, the senior has still been applying heat, in fact so much heat that her squad is off to a 7-1 start but not only is the defense standing out, her offensive game has been a huge part of the fast start

Panuco can play both the 1 and 2, she chooses to set teammates up for baskets when running the point yet make no bones about it, she can score, and over the summer, that mid to long-range game was definitely clicking as well as her attacking off the dribble but what I truly have enjoyed about her over her career is her BB-IQ and having knowledge of the game, playing within yourself as well as getting yours in the flow., well that combination has become a lost art in many cases yet her will to win is the most important thing and she shows it by diving on the floor, taking the charge or whatever it takes. I’ll do a recap as the season progresses, check out her highlight