The SHS Player-a-Day countdown concludes with senior forward Alex Stockton.

High school sports are rarely consistent. Perhaps it’s the athletes involved, the messiness of officiating or the brief, four-year windows in which high school careers are expected to coalesce, but athletics at the high school level are hectic, unpredictable affairs.

So whenever someone or something is so consistent at this level, creatures of habit like us cling to these things. And if Sandpoint basketball fans could count on one constant throughout thick and thin, coaching changes and the like, it was always Alex Stockton’s effort and play-making on the court.

Whether it was a chase-down block like he had against Priest River, a 13-rebound performance like he had against Timberlake, or a go-to weapon on offense, Stockton always delivered. He is a bona fide play-maker, a tough assignment on defense and really only plays in one gear: all-out.

The senior has risen to the occasion time after time this season — especially against league-rival Lakeland. Despite staring at a 24-point halftime deficit at the Battle for the Paddle, Stockton kicked off the third quarter by going on a 6-0 run en route to scoring eight of Sandpoint’s 13 third-quarter points. His 24-point, 11-rebound double-double was an inspired performance on a night where nearly everything didn’t break right for Sandpoint fans.

Throughout the ups and downs of adjusting to a new coaching staff, the senior’s constant competitiveness sparked the Bulldogs whenever games looked like they were getting out of hand.

Needless to say, future Bulldog forwards will have humongous shoes to fill. Picturing a Sandpoint team without Stockton is a strange, melancholy feeling. But given his athletic abilities and fiery competitiveness, he’s bound to have a home on either the gridiron or the court of whichever college he attends this fall.

Game of note: vs. Lakeland

In Wade Engelson’s words: “One of the things that people don’t realize about Alex is that he’s a great teammate. If you ever see him during the games, he’s always cheering for his teammates and he’s always very positive. And he’s a relentless competitor. No matter what the situation is, he’s always working hard — and you always know that.”