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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

College Recruiters Out In Force

Women’s college basketball coaches were swarming around the NJCAA Division I women’s tournament Tuesday like bees to honey.

They’re all in search of the Queen Bee who perhaps could make an immediate impact and take their teams to the next beehive - or, in coach-speak, to the next level.

In the opening game in the fit-for-a-queen Wagstaff Gym on the well-kept Tyler Junior College campus, college coaches outnumbered spectators. Tournament officials estimated the coaching throng at well over 100.

The coaches were easy to spot. Most of them were wearing stylish, personalized warmups with their school’s name and/or mascot featured prominently. They had their clipboards or notebooks and they were making notations next to team rosters in the tourney program.

Judging from opening-round games, there’s a deep talent pool for the coaches to pick from.

Following each game, the recruiters approached the junior college coaches and talked about the players that caught their eyes. In some cases coaches stood five-deep waiting to talk.

North Idaho College coach Greg Crimp was cornered for 20 minutes. Coaches from the University of San Francisco and Xavier had nice things to say about 6-foot Cardinal sophomore Shawna Rainer, a Shadle Park High graduate.

Later, Crimp told Rainer’s parents they’d better get used to traveling because he thinks she’ll be far from home next year.

And a coach from Georgia complimented the athletic potential of 6-foot-4 freshman Erin Dowhy of Edmonton, Alberta. She poured in 12 big points and had seven rebounds off the bench in NIC’s 74-65 victory over Hiwassee College.

From start to finish this season, Dowhy could be NIC’s most improved player - especially the last third of the year.

Eavesdropping

Overheard as two recruiters were walking to the parking lot:

“Could I get a ride with you,” a coach asked a recruiting foe.

“Yeah, but it’ll cost you a buck a mile,” quipped the other coach.

Hey, recruiting can be expensive. Would that be an NCAA violation?

More swings than a playground

Both NIC coach Greg Crimp and Hiwassee’s Dean Walsh acknowledged the strange flow and twists of momentum in their opener.

“Most games have runs, but this might have been a little more severe than most,” Crimp said.

Perhaps the biggest swing came after NIC bolted in front 47-42 with 13 minutes left. Three minutes and 13 straight points later, Hiwassee led 55-47.

“That run was bad, but I didn’t know it was (13-0),” Crimp said. “I knew I was feeling comfortable and the next time I looked up we were down eight. We weren’t feeling good at all. It was like the wind was out of our sails.”

Following a timeout, though, NIC caught a final wind.

Pardon while we gargle

It can’t be overstated how NIC withstood adversity Tuesday.

They may have come close to, well, choking, but they didn’t.

Tonight, they’ll have to play perhaps their best game of the year to beat Central Arizona.

Six Central Arizona players scored in double figures in an 85-77 overtime victory against Seminole (Okla.).

What’s your game plan, Coach Crimp?

“I haven’t decided yet,” he said, smiling nervously. “They don’t seem to have any weaknesses. We’re going to see a lot of great athletes. And they’re well-coached.”

A hoop heaven

Tyler is known as the Rose City (you’re not alone Portland) because it calls itself the Rose Capital of the U.S.

Since the town began hosting the tourney in 1989, several blossoming stars have dribbled through.

Consider: former Texas Tech All-America Sheryl Swoopes (South Plains College), Alabama’s Shalonda Enis (Trinity Valley) and DePaul’s Kim Williams (Westark, Ark.). , DataTimes