All Roads Lead To Victories Coach’s, Players’ Pathways Converge Into Success For Undefeated Cheney

Follow the pathways that have intersected in Cheney.

Marty Jessett attended St. George’s High School before transferring to Cheney. As an adult, Jessett coached the St. George’s boys basketball team before leaving to coach the Cheney girls.

Senior Jenny Hoots attended Cheney High, transferred to Deer Park for her sophomore year, then returned to Cheney.

Senior Erin Soliday transferred to Cheney after eight years in the Reardan School District.

No matter where they began, or where they have wandered, people have found this year’s Cheney High team as an ideal place to settle.

No wonder. After last year’s strange 10-15 season, the Blackhawks are up in the clouds with an 8-0 record.

Soliday, a four-year starter, passes the credit to Jessett. Unaware of Jessett’s success as a Cheney player, Soliday is nonetheless captivated by the new coach’s enthusiastic and encouraging style.

Jessett played point guard when Cheney made back-to-back State AA tournaments in the mid-1980s. Jessett claims the Blackhawks are revamped because of something he brought from St. George’s.

From the St. George’s girls, that is. Jessett has modeled Cheney’s trapping defense on the one Ross Thomas has employed during three consecutive trips to the State B championship game.

“Our defense is what makes us,” Soliday said.

“Our offense has a tendency of going down and doing its own thing. But (Jessett’s) working with us on that.”

Cheney didn’t play to its potential last year until the time was ripe.

The Blackhawks slogged through a 3-7 Frontier League season and advanced to the District 7-AA Tournament as the fourth and final seed.

Their district opener, a 17-point loss to league champion Pullman, didn’t offer any encouraging signs.

Then, in succession, Cheney eliminated Colville and Clarkston and tripped up Pullman. The game to decide the league’s state representative was prolonged by two overtimes before Pullman won.

“I don’t think we had the desire last year,” Soliday said. “It just took us a long time to jell.”

Soliday, senior Melissa Krogh and Hoots, at 6-foot-3, are the returning starters. Junior wing Lisa Anderson and freshman point guard Anna Getz are the new starters.

Soliday said Hoots has stepped up her game, playing the same intimidating defense inside and becoming far less dejected when her offensive game is off.

Anderson ignites the defense with her hounding style, Soliday said.

As for Soliday, she isn’t the 3-point threat her older sister Jennifer was, but she definitely inherited the family’s athletic genes.

Soliday’s father, Ron, led Reardan to State B basketball championships in 1970 and ‘71. Uncles Larry and Jack also played on state-title teams. Cousin Robb is a top scorer for Reardan this season. Another cousin, Monty, helped Reardan to the State B-11 football title game in 1993.

Erin followed Jennifer’s footsteps and left the Reardan School District for the academic opportunities at Cheney High.

The daily 60-mile, round-trip drive hasn’t soured Soliday on her decision. Neither have the mediocre, sparsely-attended basketball seasons leading up to this one.

“But it is kind of nice this year, hearing people say, ‘I’m coming to your game tonight,”’ Soliday said.

MEMO: This sidebar ran with story: FRONTIER LEAGUE AT A GLANCE Notes on Frontier League basketball, which begins Friday: Defending league champions: Boys - Colville, West Valley and Cheney. Girls - Pullman. Defending District 7-AA champions: Boys - WV. Girls Pullman. State results: WV’s boys won one of three; Pullman’s girls lost twice. Returning all-leaguers: Boys - (first team) Greg Jones and David Schillinger, WV. Girls (first team) Chris Brozik, Colville; Farrah Parsley, East Valley; Melissa Schlettert, Pullman; (second team) Krissy Burt, Clarkston; Sarah Ewan, Colville; Erin Soliday, Cheney. Coaching changes: Sam Adams, an assistant last year, replaced Bill Jacobe as Clarkston boys coach. Rich King has replaced Rick Meddock as EV boys coach. Marty Jessett is the new Cheney girls coach, replacing Randy Hunt. Wounded, grounded: Senior wing Lance Hattemer, who quarterbacked Cheney to the league football title, broke a bone in his foot and will miss the season. WV senior guard Sabron Stone will miss the next five weeks with a broken wrist. New in town: Pullman’s Natalie Weeks (6-foot-3) transferred from Montana. Openers: Pullman at Colville; Cheney at EV; Clarkston at WV. Projected finishes: Boys - WV, Pullman, Cheney, Colville, Clarkston, EV. Girls - Cheney, Pullman, Colville, WV, EV, Clarkston.