Abbey Arends can be like a chameleon on the basketball court, just when opponents have stopped her, she changes her game to find another way to score points.

The 6-foot Albert Lea senior can play all five positions on the court, changing her game to fit whatever the defense is allowing — whether it’s from the outside, shooting jumpers, slashing through the lane or posting players up in the paint — Arends has a vast repertoire to choose from when needed.

Arends has showcased that arsenal through the first four games, averaging 20.3 points per game and twice going for 27 points. She is on pace to score 1,000 career points and become just the third Albert Lea girls’ basketball player to do so. But her scoring isn’t her main concern.

“It’s a team aspect this year and I’m going to do everything I can to help my team win,” Arends said. “If that’s scoring points, getting rebounds, bringing the ball up the court, I’m going to do it every time to come out with the W.”

Arends was named by the Minnesota Basketball News as one of the top 100 girls’ basketball players in the state before the season and she’s played like one of the best in the state. Arends is shooting 42 percent from the field and 71 percent from the free throw line. She leads the team in assists and is second in rebounding.

The Tigers haven’t had a winning season since the 2006-07 season when Arends was a freshman. Arends would like to leave the team as a winner.

As a senior Arends has taken on leadership aggressively, spending time with younger players during practice on drills, giving teammates how to improve their game, and acting as another coach almost.

“She’ll pull girls off at practice and do drills with you,” said teammate Morgan Stadheim. “Even in the locker room she stands up in front of everyone and draws stuff on the whiteboard.”

Leadership is just the latest progression for Arends.

“I want to be the leader on the team, I want to take responsibility,” Arends said. “That’s why when I go out on the court I don’t think about, ‘Gosh, I’m playing bad,’ I’m thinking about I’m letting my team down right now.”

Arends grew up playing the game in her driveway, dribbling up and down the pavement until she was able to bounce the ball between her legs perfectly. She has a meticulous approach to basketball and quickly analyzes her mechanics if a shot fails to hit its mark.

“I’m really into detail,” Arends said. “When I’m shooting, if I miss it, I always go over steps what could I do to make that shot. Does my elbow need to be in? Do I need to get lower? Do I need to follow through? Do I need more spin on my shot? I always make sure I’m pretty detailed in that aspect.”

Arends has spent countless hours inside a gym, playing on AAU teams or attending basketball camps to improve her play, but at the same time she’s torn between trying to balance basketball and college. Tigers head coach Sean Gillam says she’s capable of playing at a number of Division II and Division III schools, but the decision to continue to play isn’t that simple.

“It’s about where I want to get the best education I can,” said Arends, who is on the A honor roll. “Basketball is a big time commitment at the college level.”