ARLINGTON — Height matters in basketball, but Arlington senior Serafina Balderas is a glaring exception.

Standing just 5-feet tall, the point guard scored 10 points in Arlington’s win over Meadowdale 65-25 Dec. 1, and then led the team with 12 points, defeating Monroe 65-56 Dec. 2.

For that, she is the Marysville Globe-Arlington Times Athlete of the Week.

Last season she averaged 8.5 points a game for a team that went to state. As a defensive standout her relentless style and quick hands lead her to loose balls and steals.

“I think I’ve been more of a defensive player but that has also helped shaped me into the offensive player that I am now,” Balderas said. “Once I got steals, it helped me run down the court and get open looks.”

What she lacks in height she makes up for with her speed, determination and overall her overall ball. She’s not afraid to take hits either, as she leads the team in charges, coach Joe Marsh said.

“She’s just a warrior. She’s fearless,” Marsh said. “She scares me sometimes when she’ll take a charge then she’ll pop up and everybody cheers. And she’ll do it again.”

Balderas knew early on that she would be height challenged.

“When I started playing basketball, I knew I was going to have to have something that was different then everyone else,” she said. “So I just worked on being the fastest kid through sprints and anything we did.”

But being small also has its advantages, Balderas said.

“Of course I’m lower to the ground,” she said. And her aggressive defensive presence makes opposing players “scared to dribble the ball.”

Now playing her final year for Arlington, she wants to do anything she can to help her team, with the goal of taking them to state again.

“I want to step up and be a big leader,” she said. “If my shots not on one night, then assists, defensive stops, and just doing anything I can to make our team the best.”