Three Grant County girls teams prepare
MOSES LAKE — Ephrata, Othello and Quincy girls basketball teams are competing in the Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) for a chance at a state playoff berth.
The 2009-2010 teams are chalk full of experienced lineups and high hopes as they get ready to tip off this week.
Ephrata Tigers
Head Coach: Aaron Ross, fourth year
2008-2009 Overall Record: 10-10
2008-2009 District Record: 9-9, 6th in CWAC
State Appearance: No
Starters Returning: Abby Smith, Margaret Eisen, Kelsey Yenney, and Mallory Lotz.
Other varsity members: Stephanie Lutz, Alex DeHoog. Heidi Buchert, Maddie Lotz, Julia Weaver, Kendra DeHoog, and Hailey Boyd.
Outlook: They may be a large group of bubbly and personable young ladies off the court, but the Tigers are all business between the lines during practice time.
This approach is what Ross hopes will pay off for this year’s edition of his team. They will aim to build on last season’s 10-10 record, when the squad finished sixth in the CWAC.
“They are fun kids but they are all business when we get to work,” Ross said. “We are a very athletic group.”
Yenney, named second-team All CWAC and Smith, who was honorable mention last year, will spearhead a group of athletes Ross wants to push the ball up the floor and exert full court pressure to disrupt opposing offenses.
Ross expects his squad to push for a spot in the District tournament and “go from there.”
In order to succeed, the Tigers will have to battle it out with Wapato, Prosser, East Valley and Othello, according to Ross.
“I think we came a long way this summer on trying to mesh together and to build a team.” Ross said. “We came a long way in building a team atmosphere and getting those young kids adjusted to the varsity level. Hopefully it pays off because I think we are as athletic as any team in the league.”
Season opener: Friday they host Lake Roosevelt
Othello Huskies
Head Coach: Laurie Stickel, second year
2008-2009 Overall Record: 19-8
2008-2009 District Record: 14-4, 3rd in CWAC
State Appearance: 5th
Starters Returning: Kylee Mollotte and Christine Kirkwood.
Other varsity members: Tiffany Martinez, Lindsay Garza, JoAnna Quezada, Ashleigh Snyder, Ana Rodriguez, Amy Bullis and Anica Garza.
Outlook: Three valuable starters took their diplomas, points and rebounds with them leaving Mollotte and Kirkwood behind. The duo will have to lead the Huskies back to Yakima after Othello’s maiden voyage to the state tournament last year.
The fifth-place showing at state was aided by the play of CWAC Player of the Year Allison Walker, who is now a member of the University of Idaho volleyball team.
Stickel will employ Othello’s man-to-man defense this year, which could be key to their season.
“The girls are working well as a team,” Stickel said. “We just need to work on staying together, accepting our roles and taking care of the basketball.”
If they do that, Stickel thinks the Lady Huskies would make the program’s second consecutive, and ever, state tournament appearance.
“Our league is going to be as tough or tougher than it was last year,” Stickel said. “Prosser, Ellensburg, Quincy, and Ephrata all have most of the their key players returning and Wapato has everyone returning.”
Season opener: Dec. 8 they host Ellensburg
Quincy Jackrabbits
Head Coach: Cully Donovan, sixth year
2008-2009 Overall Record: 4-17
2008-2009 District Record: 4-11, 7th in CWAC
State Appearance: No
Starters Returning: Kayla Horning, Marisol Lopez, Taylor Kunkel, and Dayanna Lopez.
Other varsity members: Amanda Misasi, Jaclyn Lerma, Cristina Figueroa, Cassidee Davis, Jazmine Perez, Heather Fleming, and Rachel Brazier.
Outlook: A scrappy and experienced bunch of players could make the difference between a repeat of last year’s seventh-place finish in league play and quite possibly challenging for a District playoff spot.
Coach Cully Donovan returns four starters and six girls with “lots of varsity experience.”
Donovan said his squad may end up with nine seniors on the team.
“A strong point with our team would be our team chemistry and varsity experience,” Donovan said. “We return all put one player from last year. We should be better based on that.”
Season opener: Saturday they play at Cashmere.