Lakeside Coach Urges Petticrew To Fire Away

Lisa Schultz would like to send a simple message to junior guard Nikki Petticrew:

“SHOOT!”

Now, later and forever. Shoot, shoot, shoot.

Petticrew, an all-league talent for Lakeside’s girls basketball team, has often allowed others to handle the scoring while she focuses on rebounding and defense.

That made some sense during Petticrew’s first two years, when she played with current college players Lora Jolley, Carrie Waddell and Kim Wilkins.

But Lakeside must carry on without six graduates from last year’s sixth-place finisher at the State A tournament. Petticrew’s scoring abilities are needed.

“She’s now understanding what I’ve told her for two years,” said Schultz, Lakeside’s seventh-year varsity coach. “I think she should shoot 15 times a game.”

Petticrew’s polite nature stops her from demanding the ball. Also working against her, although less than before, is her notion of where she fits in.

Petticrew is a basketball player who thought she was a volleyball player who thought she was a softball player.

She has been named all-league in each sport. But a dozen years of softball, and the school’s lack of success in volleyball, may have taken their toll.

“I might do track, try something new,” Petticrew said, with advance apologies to softball coach Bill Bender.

Petticrew won’t be able to hide from college basketball recruiters. Nearly 40 schools, including Colorado, Arizona and Portland, have sent her letters.

The colleges first took notice of Petticrew during her freshman year, at the 1996 state tournament. Recruiters already knew of current Lakeside senior Brianne Jolley, who made a splash as a freshman at the ‘95 tourney and has signed with St. Mary’s.

Schultz said Petticrew is starting to see herself as a complete player, like Jolley. “I occasionally bring (the ball) upcourt or post up,” said the 5-foot-10 Petticrew. “I have to because we’re not as big as last year.”

With defenses collapsing on Jolley and Petticrew, senior Linsey Heebink has been Lakeside’s top scorer in the early going. Heebink may play at Lewis-Clark State in Lewiston, which appears to have a pipeline to the Nine Mile Falls school. Lora Jolley and ex-Eagle Stephanie Guenther have played for the Warriors.

Before last year’s state tourney, Petticrew said the Eagles should make the title game. Lakeside (23-3) lost in the semifinals to eventual champion King’s, then played a humdrum consolation game and lost to Omak. Petticrew, averaging 14.3 points in the tourney, was 0 for 8 from the field against Omak.

“Mrs. Schultz always brings that up,” Petticrew said of King’s. “For our seniors, it was their one goal.”

Petticrew’s brother, George, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals last June. He’s scheduled to play baseball at Community Colleges of Spokane on a draft-and-follow agreement.

The Petticrews moved to Lakeside from the Rogers High neighborhood. Nikki finished at Arlington Elementary before entering Lakeside.

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