MARYSVILLE — Gabrielle “Gabby” Grandbois, sister, daughter and basketball player has earned her spot as a leader for Marysville Getchell’s girls basketball team.

The senior has been a four-year varsity player for the team, and has had quite the journey playing for MG.

“It’s actually been really good,” Gabby said. “It has made me step up a lot as a leader in my position.”

Gabby has been coached under her mom, Shannon Grandbois, who was appointed coach since MG’s basketball program launched five years ago.

Grandbois said Gabby is one-of-a-kind.

“She’s one of those unbelievable players,” Grandbois said. “I’ve coached many years, and very rarely do you get a player like Gabby. She is unconditionally willing to do anything for her team.”

Before Gabby enrolled, she was weighing whether she wanted to attend MG or crosstown school Marysville-Pilchuck. When she learned her mom would be coach, she wanted to be a Charger.

Though it took some time getting used to, Gabby has enjoyed having her mom as coach.

“She tries really hard to treat me as a player than as her daughter,” Gabby said. “And when she’s at home, she’s completely normal—she’s my mom and everything.”

Her mom agrees.

“I’m more strict on the court, then I’m probably more playful at home,” Grandbois said. “But I’m always going to be harder on my kids than anyone else on the team.”

Likewise on the court Gabby said, “I have to keep her as my coach to all my teammates.”

But just because Gabby’s at home doesn’t mean she gets a break from Grandbois’ coaching.

“She will talk with me through the games a lot, and ask me if she needs to do something different from my perspective as a player,” Gabby said.

Having a coach at home has its perks.

“When she knows I’m having a hard time, she knows how to get me out of it because she knows who I am as a person,” Gabby said.

It can be rarity for a parent and child to also be coach and player on a team, but even more uncommon to have another sibling in the mix.

Gabby plays on the team with sister, Madeline “Maddy” Grandbois, a freshman who also plays varsity.

“With my sister it’s almost like we have a mind connection on the court,” Gabby said. “I always know where she is and where she’s going.”

In MG’s game against Marysville-Pilchuck Dec. 10, Gabby led her team with 20 points.

“It was pretty surprising because the game went by so fast,” Gabby said. “I didn’t feel like I got that many points because our whole team was really involved in that game.”

Gabby scored by breakaways, 3-pointers, lay ups and free throws.

“Her driving, and her short game are really strong this year,” Grandbois said. “But all around, she’s a real leader and does a lot of directing.”

Starting as a true freshman her first year, she didn’t have much basketball fundamentals prior to that. Hard work followed to solidify her spot on the team.

Only after freshman year did she play in leagues outside of Marysville to gain basketball fundamentals.

She’s been contacting schools to play basketball and study in the medical field or psychiatry. She’s really interested in Western Washington University because her mom played basketball there.

Grandbois said she has learned a lot about herself as a coach, as well as learning more about Gabby as a player.

“She’s told me to open up, and be honest about my players, be patient,” Grandbois said. “I’m going to miss her when she’s gone, she’s a key piece to keeping this team together.”