Coupeville Sports

Madeline Strasburg, AKA Maddie Big Time. (Photos by Shelli Trumbull/John Fisken/Linda Hammer)

Madeline Strasburg gets visibly annoyed at times when she’s playing.

And that’s a good thing, because when she does, the Coupeville High School junior, who celebrates her 17th birthday today, generally responds by unleashing a butt-whuppin’ on the rival team that has just irritated her.

If she loses the basketball on one play, or gets a foul called on her by a blind ref, she slams down the court like a whirlwind the next and rams the ball right down the throat of the defense.

Twice last season, in back-to-back games that were two weeks apart thanks to winter break, she pulled off the same dazzling play from the very same place on the court — virtual mirror images reflecting Strasburg fully earning the nickname Maddie Big Time.

In both games, she capped the third quarter by stealing the ball, whirling around and draining LONG three-point bombs off the glass, shots that dropped through the twine a mere fraction of a second before the horn sounded.

Then, both times, she spun around, hands slapping her thighs like a gunslinger putting away their six-shooters.

Rival fans and coaches cried softly those days, while Maddie Big Time permitted a small smile to grace her lips.

Even then, it was the smile of a stone cold killer.

CHS has some very talented athletes, but Strasburg is a rarity.

At a time when everyone has been raised to be overly reverent and deferential to the players on the opposing teams, she’s a bit of a throw back.

Volleyball, basketball, softball. Pick a sport. She is here to kick your butt.

That’s a beautiful thing to see.