ARLINGTON — Arlington senior Jayla Russ wants to be THE post.

“In the past years where we actually had a post, I was second-options post,” Russ said. “But I think this year I’ve put it on myself to be the main post.”

She’s thriving in that role. She led the Eagles with 19 points and 15 rebounds in the 53-19 win over Oak Harbor Jan. 29, and 17 points and nine rebounds in the league-clinching 62-41 victory over Stanwood Feb. 4.

She has been named the Marysville Globe-Arlington Times Athlete of the Week.

“I think I was more aggressive going to the basket,” Russ said. “Our shots weren’t going in so I decided to go inside.”

“When she plays with that kind of energy — she’s just successful,” coach Joe Marsh said. “When she does that, she makes the team better.”

Before Russ was the main post, she played beside Lyndsay Leatherman until she graduated in 2014. Leatherman was strong at center, but as Russ stepped up to fill that role, the game has “evolved around her,” Marsh said.

Russ, standing 6-foot-1, is taller than most girls, but she also brings athleticism and shooting to her post game.

“The nice thing about her is she’s versatile,” Marsh said.

It even helps her offensively, as she’s also a good passer, he added.

She started on varsity in the later half of her freshman year. Right away it was her “size and athletic ability, and a good sense on how to play the game,” that stood out for Marsh.

“Jayla isn’t a true post — she can slip out and shoot threes,” Marsh said.

It also helps Russ has plenty of winning experience. She has been with Arlington all four years it won consecutive league titles and has been to the state three times.

“I think that experience is invaluable,” Marsh said.

Russ has helped her team achieve an undefeated league record, this season at 18-0.

“Our defense is really good.” Russ said. “If were not having a good game, our defense gets us back into it.”

She also credits the team’s success to competitive practices. “We just want to beat everyone,” Russ said, whether it’s free throw drills or scrimmages.

Russ got her start in basketball when her parents put her in, seeing she was taller than most girls. But she didn’t start playing AAU until the fourth grade.

“When I was in sixth grade we had a combined team with Arlington and Stanwood,” Russ said. “‘Oh I’m actually pretty good at basketball,’ so I may as well just stick with it, and I’ve gotten taller over the years.”

Arbitrarily noticing her gifts in basketball was similar to her success in track as well, where she has went to state in the discus. She started in middle school, where she thought she was OK, but then went to a clinic with high schoolers.

“She went to track, and she had more success then she expected,” Marsh said. “That helps us when they bring that state experience back to the floor.”

Now with state on her mind, she wants to help her team succeed.

“We just want to compete with everyone and just play our game,” Russ said.

So far, Russ has been getting scholarships and invitations to community colleges and smaller schoolS; she’s seeing if she can continue both track and basketball. She wants to study to become a sports therapist or kinesiology.

“I want to stay within sports and be on the job,” Russ said.