Player with prosthesis hits her stride in hoops

TACOMA — Katie Holloway of Lake Stevens was fighting lingering flu and cold symptoms yesterday. Ask her about a disability, and that's what she likely would mention.

Her amputated right foot? Not a problem.

"I never feel like I have a disadvantage," said the 6-foot-3 junior, who plays with a prosthesis. "I feel like I should stay with the rest of the girls no matter what I do."

She usually does. Despite the viral infection and what many would consider a disability, the starting center for the Vikings scored six points and grabbed three rebounds yesterday. Her team advanced to the quarterfinals with a 58-46 victory over Central Kitsap at the Class 4A state girls basketball tournament at the Tacoma Dome.

Holloway's foot was amputated when she was 18 months old. She was born without a vital bone in the foot.

Holloway started playing basketball at age 5. She also has played other sports, but dropped volleyball after her sophomore season to concentrate on basketball, where she averaged 10.9 points this season.

"She's everything you would want in a daughter," said Lake Stevens Coach Steve Berg.

That includes brains. Holloway has a 3.9 grade-point average and is interested in law.

Holloway is an inspiration to her teammates, but her coach said her foot is never a consideration. A reporter asked him this week which foot had been amputated and he couldn't remember.

Holloway runs with a slight limp, but makes up for a lack of speed with her height.

"I never feel sorry for myself," she said. "I feel like I should be at the level of everyone else." Which is exactly what she's doing again this week in Tacoma.

Craig Smith: 206-464-8279 or csmith@seattletimes.com