The term "role player" often seems to carry with it a negative connotation. Not for Newman girls basketball coach Jay Howell.

"Every successful team has to have girls that are willing to lay it out for their teammates, even though their achievements don't always show up in the box score," Howell said. "I consider [role players] almost like the glue on the team."

Two of the Comets' key role players are juniors Kayci Howell – Jay's daughter – and Sara Nysather, the team's first player off the bench. Both have had their shining moments.