There’s a quote from her father that Acalanes girls basketball sophomore guard Sophie Chinn always reverberates in her head.

Be comfortable being uncomfortable.

Chinn embraces the competition and the most difficult of challenges, and it’s just tjhe way she’s been since first picking up a basketball in elementary guard. She wants to face fellow sophomore KK Lacanlale – the reigning Diablo Athletic League MVP – in practice because that will challenge her and only make her better.

So, when the big stages hit, Chinn is more than equipped.

“When the pressure comes, I’m able to withstand it and perform very well,” Chinn said.

These first two years at Acalanes, Chinn has shown she can withstand it in what’s already been a championship career.

Chinn garnered all-league recognition while being an integral figure in Acalanes’ run to a North Coast Section Division 2 title last season, which marked the program’s first section crown since 2003 and its sixth ever.

After that, Chinn was back in the lab, preparing for what was about to be a monstrous sophomore slate.

“Definitely my shot and free throws,” Chinn said. “My percentage used to be higher on that. My confidence I guess with handling the ball. On the defensive end, just continuing to guard the best player on the other team and helping my team out that way.”

Checkmark on pretty much all of that.

The Acalanes standout is lightning quick down the court with the inside and outside shot to match it. She’s getting her teammates involved. Always playing smart, tenacious defense and being up in an opposition’s grill.

She’s a consistent double-digit scorer who also garnered all-tournament recognition at the recent West Coast Jamboree, nearly helping the Dons defeat a defending state champion in Salesian.

Big focuses of Chinn’s work are studying the game. She loves to watch Stephen Curry on offense and Draymond Green on defense because of his tenacity and will to want to lock down the other team’s best player.

Plus, Chinn is watching game tape with her father and helping become a better player.

“My mom and dad are always there to push me and support me,” Chinn said.

It’s because of Chinn’s drive and her passion for the sport, as this is something she’s wanted to do for years. Once COVID hit, that only amplified her determination and passion to want to succeed and want to win for Acalanes.

Winning is what Chinn keeps doing at Acalanes and what she hopes to do these next three years – last year’s first-round loss in the NorCal playoffs still stings, Chinn said – before potentially moving on to play collegiately.

“In high school, I think we can maybe make a run at state this year, depending on where we’re seeded and all that,” Chinn said. “In my junior and senior year, I hope we can go pretty far when it comes to that.

“If it’s possible, I’d love to play in college. I love watching the older players. When I was with Cal Stars, I was watching the older players and teams”.

Sophie and the Dons play away friday night at Las Lomas with 7pm tip off. This team is ‘the’ team to watch. Come on out and see the magic the Dons put on the court together…it is DONtastic!

This article is from West Coast Preps. We appreciate WCP highlighting our Dons and all our sports teams.