MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant Christian School senior Kali Kast knew she was nearing the 1,000 career point mark, but wasn’t sure how close she was as she entered the Lions’ Dec. 3 game against Mount Vernon Christian.

“I didn’t really know I was that close,” Kali Kast said. “I really just wanted to win – I have a competitive nature, and Mount Vernon Christian is a really good team. I was just thinking ‘What do I have to do to help us win this game?’”

Josh Kast, MLCA/CCS head coach and Kali’s father, broke the news to the senior player after the win over the Hurricanes.

“I didn’t want her to think about it too much, so I just let it happen,” Josh Kast said. “It’s a pretty cool accomplishment for her to get there. She was surprised – she knew she was close, but she didn’t know how close she was.”

Kali Kast, who has been starting for the Lions since she was in eighth grade, described herself as a do-it-all type of player. If the team needs someone to take contested layups, she’ll do it. If they need someone to take the ball up the floor, she’ll do it.

“Whatever the team needs, I’ll go to,” Kali Kast said.

“She brings a side of versatility, where she can play any position on the floor,” Josh Kast said. “If we need somebody to go inside and play down low, get a mismatch down there, she can do that. She can bigger girls off the dribble up top, so it’s a matchup problem for people.”

Filling as many roles for the Lions as she does, Kali Kast said she tends not to think when she’s on the court – she just plays basketball.

“You can’t be scared, you just have to go out there and do what you’re asked,” Kali Kast said. “My mentality is I don’t like to think, I just do it. And if it doesn’t work out how the way I want, I won’t do it again. I just like to go out and do the things I’m told to do and what is best for the team.”

Having gotten into basketball at a young age thanks to her dad, Kali Kast enjoys playing for her father.

“Personally, I like it,” Kali Kast said. “Lots of people don’t like it, but I love it. He trusts me to go up to him and say ‘Hey, we need to fix something.’ It’s a good relationship.”

Joining Josh and Kali on the court is MLCA/CCS senior Makiya Kast.

“Most people don’t get a chance to play with their siblings, so I think I’m very blessed to have that opportunity,” Kali Kast said.

Playing basketball has become a family bonding activity for the trio.

“It’s been fun,” Josh Kast said. “With Makiya and Kali, it’s been a good coach-father-daughter relationship. It’s good bonding for us, something we’ve always loved to do together. We enjoy it very much.”

One of Kali Kast’s favorite parts of basketball is driving into the lane and taking contested layups, she said. The senior described it as a “euphoric” experience.

“I get excited, and I think it gets my teammates excited,” Kali Kast said. “They see how I’m going, and they go at the same level as me.”

Even with family members on the team, there’s another sort of family with the MLCA/CCS Lions – the seniors, whom Kali has played with since elementary school.

“It’s kind of like a family, because we’ve been with each other for so long,” Kali Kast said. “I’ve been with most of the seniors since sixth grade. Ali (Stanley), I’ve played with her since second grade. I’ve known those girls for a long time.”

Along with basketball, Kali has also played volleyball and ran track, though basketball has always been her preferred sport. In volleyball, she was a co-MVP of the Central Washington 1B league this past fall.

“I’ve put a lot more time into the sport, I think I have a lot more love for the sport than volleyball,” Kali Kast said.

The senior was grateful to both teammates and coaches for helping her cross the 1,000 career point mark.

“I was happy, because it felt like all of my hard work had paid off,” Kali Kast said. “It’s a big thing to cross that mark, and I was very happy and thankful for the coaching that I’ve had for all these years to help me get to this point.”

Ian Bivona can be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.