After more than 100 games of high school basketball, Neuqua Valley senior Caitlin Washington is a known commodity.

The 5-foot-10 guard is often steady, sometimes spectacular and always fun to watch.

Washington is fun to play with too. Just ask fellow four-year starter Kylee Norkus. They’ve been teammates since sixth grade.

“She’s always been a baller, but obviously from middle school to now is a big jump,” Norkus said. “She’s brought a lot with her all-around game — rebounds, boxing out, passing the ball and scoring.

“She’s doing a great job all-around, and I’m really proud of her.”

Washington is averaging 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals this season. She and Norkus, an Evansville recruit, often take turns leading the Wildcats in scoring and frequently find each other for easy baskets.

That has been the case for a while. Together with senior point guard Zoe Navarro, who also is a fourth-year varsity player, Washington and Norkus have led the Wildcats to a 65-37 record during their careers. That includes a 21-11 mark last season, when Neuqua Valley won DuPage County Conference and Class 4A regional titles.

Washington did it again Tuesday, leading all players with 18 points and five steals during the Wildcats’ 57-46 conference win against DeKalb in Naperville.

The Wildcats (18-10, 8-2) finished second in the conference behind Waubonsie Valley, which beat them by one point and two points in the teams’ two matchups.

“Honestly, I think senior year is all about just winning as many games as possible and going out with a bang, leave a legacy,” Washington said. “I’ve obviously brought a winning culture.

“We won regionals last year. We hadn’t done that in a long time, so this year obviously the goal is to win sectionals and (make) a state run.”

That will be tough to do. The Wildcats are seeded fifth in the Class 4A Oswego Sectional behind heavily favored Bolingbrook (23-3), Waubonsie Valley (27-2), Downers Grove North (27-3) and Benet (20-6), and don’t have much size.

But Washington doesn’t lack for confidence.

“Her confidence is up a lot,” Norkus said. “On and off the court, she’s very confident — in practice, in games, everywhere.”

Washington is always doing something somewhere on the court, and at times it can seem she’s everywhere she needs to be.

Against DeKalb (15-15, 4-6), she made a steal on the game’s opening possession and fed Norkus for a basket. Then Washington made another steal and a layup for Neuqua Valley’s second basket.

Washington had nine points in the first half to stake the Wildcats to a 28-16 lead and then scored nine more after intermission, including a pair of drives for 3-point plays during the third quarter to extend the lead to 37-16.

The Barbs responded with a 17-0 run to pull within 37-33 before Norkus tallied six straight points to restore order. The wild in-game swings and close finishes have been a recurring theme for the Wildcats, as half of their games have been decided by nine points or less.

Through it all, Washington has retained a stoic look on the court. That’s probably a good thing.

“We’ve had so many games that have been close, down to the end,” Neuqua Valley coach Mike Williams said. “I hope that kind of turns the corner now and we can change that dynamic.

“We’re going to need Caitlin’s leadership, Kylee’s leadership and Zoe’s leadership to do that. That’s really what’s going to have to happen.”

While Washington has taken on more of a leadership role as a senior, she says she hasn’t changed much.

“I think I’m the same player,” she said. “I just try to improve every little part of the game on the court, whether it’s shooting, scoring, defending or rebounding.”

Washington and her fellow seniors will get one, possibly two, more home games because they are hosting a regional. They open the tournament against 12th-seeded Naperville Central in a semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Monday and would likely play Benet (20-6) in the final.

“We’re really excited,” Norkus said. “This could be a really great time for us to show off how much we’ve grown.”

Looking further ahead, Washington, whose father, Calvin, played basketball at Eureka College, plans to study business law and play basketball in college.

“After the season, I will obviously make my decision,” Washington said. “But I’m definitely playing Division I basketball.”

She has offers. Is she willing to reveal them yet?

“Stay tuned,” Washington said.

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.