KENMORE — Basketball is what lights up Jessica Jolley.

A sophomore on the Kenmore West Lady Blue Devils basketball team, Jolley is in the position of being a three-year varsity veteran while still being one of the youngest girls on the team.

“I have a lot more confidence and I’m a lot calmer on the basketball court,” Jolley said of her progression as a varsity player. “I’m not as nervous about making mistakes because I know if I do make a mistake it’s not a big deal. I can always make it up and my teammates have my back.”

As one of the youngest teams in the Niagara Frontier League, the Blue Devils, who have six sophomores on the roster, had a rocky start to the season as they dropped their first four games.

But the Blue Devils caught fire at the Matt Colpoys tournament on Dec. 29, which they won, and went on to win five of their next six games, with Jolley’s efforts being key as her scoring averaged in double figures during that time frame.

“I’m pleased with myself because (my teammates) push me and I push them. We never let up on each other in practice because we know that won’t help,” Jolley said.

Improving in all facets, Jolley, who has shot up from 5-foot-1 at the time of her varsity debut to her current 5-7, dribbles well, penetrates, can hit the open shot, draws fouls and plays reliable defense.

“She’s matured as a person, she’s matured as a basketball player,” said Blue Devils assistant coach Jeff Martin. “Her overall work habits have improved tremendously, and it’s all because of her hard work.”

Hitting 46 percent of her shots from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range, Jolley has also been money from the foul line, hitting an unheard of 63 percent of her free throws.

“Oh my God! You have ice water in your veins,” Blue Devils coach Mike Licata exclaimed to Jolley during a recent practice as she hit free throw after free throw.

A varsity teammate of Jolley’s for three seasons, Blue Devils captain Chelsea Moore has had a front row seat for Jolley’s growth as a player.

“Me and Jolley started on the team the same year so I’ve been with her every single year,” said Moore.

“The first year she was kind of quiet and didn’t play a lot and (now) she has really, really grown up. She’s gotten most of our points this year and she plays really good defense. She’s a lot faster and a good leader now.”

Lucky enough to have supportive older teammates who immediately welcomed her into the team circle that first year of varsity, Jolley also benefited from a dose of tough love practicing against some of the toughest, most intense players the program has ever had.

Jolley is a pure basketball kid who plays AAU for the Buffalo Storm and has already displayed the characteristics of a girl who leads by example. But no matter how bad she wants to win or how well she plays, Jolley never thinks she’s bigger than the team.

“She’s not over-confident, she’s not cocky — she’s still the same Jolley,” Moore said with a smile.

Fueled by a strong desire to succeed, Jolley knows it’s also about heeding her coach’s long-standing advice that she doesn’t have to learn everything in one day.

“I started off a little frustrated. But as the years went on I really realize they were right,” she said. “It does take time. It takes a little time to grow, but you will get up to that level that you want to be at.”