In regards to basketball, the assumption of height equating to dominance or playing the game well disregards the player’s development and the hand coaches have in molding their skillset.

Going from an inexperienced freshman to a solid player as a sophomore, Warren Central’s Amber Gaston has started to grow into her role on the team.

The 6-foot-2 forward/center is averaging just around seven points, six rebounds and four blocks a game this season.

In Saturday’s 57-55 victory over Vicksburg, she just missed a triple-double by finishing with 15 points, 11 rebounds and a season-high nine blocks.

Warren Central will play its Division 4-6A opener Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Clinton.

“I’ve improved a lot since last year,” Gaston said. “I feel like this is my climax of my career. I feel like you just have to work in the offseason to get better for next year.”

One aspect of her game Gaston has worked on is her mental approach. She said if her mind isn’t right, then things won’t go well. Next, come the on-court developments of her post game and rebounding skills.

When Gaston rebounds the ball under the basket, she keeps it above her head for an easy layup as opposed to putting it on the floor and potentially giving defenders a chance to get in position for a block.

“I do have an advantage keeping it up over my head and putting it back up,” Gaston said. “Sometimes it’s against players as tall as me so I have to learn to pump fake, dribble if I have to and get the shot.”

Gaston plans to continue growing her array of post moves, crashing the glass and developing an outside shot. Defensively, she’ll work on becoming a better rebounder, collecting more steals and blocking more shots.

For Gaston, the art of blocking shots all comes down to timing.

Aside from her shot-blocking display against Vicksburg, she welcomed Jefferson County and Crystal Springs to another block party by returning eight and seven shots, respectively, in early-season games in November.

“If you don’t time it right, they’re going to pump fake you and run into you, then it’s a foul,” Gaston said. “With my length it’s a lot easier for me and I’ve learned to time myself to get that block.”

Lady Vikes coach Jackie Martin-Glass has molded Gaston into a solid rebounder and helped develop a post game for Gaston to consist of more than just putback layups.

“Amber right now, I feel like she’s progressing at the speed she should based on the level of play she was playing when I received her at ninth grade,” Martin-Glass said. “She had minimum playing time, so with hard work and with us pushing her in the gym, working on her shot and staying on top of her game she’s developed well.”

Martin-Glass has watched Gaston grow comfortable in her role and is happy with the the improvement she’s made between the two seasons.

“She’s still having difficulties, we have to work on ball handling. At her height she’s got to handle the ball a little bit better sometimes, to be able to dribble around some people,” Martin-Glass said. “The next thing we have to do is get her to put the ball on the floor, but that may be another year. Each year you add something to her game to make you a versatile player.”