MOSES LAKE — At 6-foot-7, Kyle Karstetter is hard to miss on the court at Moses Lake High School. Yet it’s the talent, not the size of the senior, that has kept eyes on him during his time as a Chief. With just a pair of games left in the regular season, the Moses Lake hooper looked back at his time with the Chiefs as he sets out for one last run.

Karstetter traced his first memories of basketball to second grade when he joined his first AAU team. The senior Chief said he and a group of other kids would head out to Lakeview to train and work out with former Moses Lake and Big Bend coach John Hohman.

Karstetter said he played for his dad from fourth to seventh grade, and said his father has been one of the biggest influences on his basketball career.

Growing up, Karstetter said he’s always been one of the bigger kids. By his freshman year, he was listed at 6 feet, 3 inches. As a sophomore, he’d reached 6 feet, 5 inches. At this rate, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Kartstetter keep growing when he reaches the college ranks.

While Karstetter said his height is merely average at the next level, it has helped him have the chance to expand his game.

“Just having that extra part of my game is really just another area I can score at,” Karstetter said.

The Moses Lake forward said the blend of playing AAU ball with Eastern Washington Elite, out of Spokane, in addition to time with the Chiefs has been one of the real keys to his development.

The high school level helped him see the different parts of the game and where he should be, learning from Hohman and current Moses Lake head coach Jake Hunt. Both coaches bring experience from the next level.

“I feel like just seeing that from them and then being able to just go do it at AAU, and work on it there, and bring it back to high school, has really made me the player I am,” Karstetter said.

Karstetter said the AAU level focuses more on his development as an individual, as well as boosting exposure. The Chiefs forward has been with Eastern Washington Elite since the summer after his freshman year.

Heading into the season, the Chiefs knew they’d be running with some young guys after losing a big chunk of last year’s team to graduation. Karstetter said he and the other seniors on the team knew their role would be bigger than it had been in the past.

“We knew that coming in,” Karstetter said. “Unfortunately, it took us a few games to figure it out. Once we figured it out, it felt like even though the wins haven’t been there, we feel like we’ve been playing a lot better.”

Stepping into a leadership role wasn’t anything new for Karstetter.

“I feel like just growing up, my dad always preached that you want to be a leader, not a follower,” Karstetter said. “So, I’m just taking that role on and trying to do the best I can getting those guys ready for next year.”

Karstetter admitted his final season with the Chiefs hasn’t gone as he’d hoped, with the Chiefs currently in sixth place in the Columbia Basin Big Nine at 2-8, 4-13 overall. While coming in as a higher seed with the playoffs already wrapped up would be nice, Karstetter said the team just has to take care of business moving forward.

“It’s not over yet; we still have a chance,” he said.

A pair of wins to wrap up the season could put the Chiefs up against Davis, a team they’ve beaten already this season.

“We’ll be overlooked, I like that,” Karstetter said. “That’s gonna be a great game. We’ve beat them once already, so why can’t we do it again? I don’t know, I’m ready for it.”

Karstetter said Moses Lake has been good to him and his family during his time with the Chiefs.

“The community has always supported us, my brothers too,” Karstetter said. “They’ve just been really supportive, and that’s really all you can ask for as an athlete is the support.”

Idaho State University will be Karstetter’s home after he moves on from the Chiefs next season. Karstetter said he’s not expecting to play a lot in his first season, but just wants to do what he can to help the team from the start.

“I know I’ve gotta hit the weight room hard when the season’s over,” Karstetter said. “Really, I want to be competing for that league championship and getting into March Madness. That’d be a lifelong dream, and I’d have that one on my brothers.”

Karstetter will suit up for his final home game when the Chiefs take on Wenatchee on Senior Night on Feb. 14.