Ferris girls coach Coulter calls it quits

Rob Coulter plans to stay around basketball but not as the Ferris girls coach.

He will have three boys – ages 12, 7 and 5 – playing basketball next year.

For primarily family reasons and a little bit to do with a job transition, Coulter has resigned. It was beginning to be difficult to balance seeing his family and coaching year round.

In five years at Ferris, the Saxons were 41-63 overall under Coulter, 32-55 in the Greater Spokane League. The 4A Saxons finished fifth this season behind the four other 4A teams, just missing out on the postseason. They were 10-10 overall.

“It’s an opportunity to be more involved with them (the boys) and coaching them,” Coulter said. He and his wife also have a daughter who will be 2 in May.

Coulter will miss coaching in the GSL.

“Every game with girls basketball in the GSL is like a playoff game,” said Coulter, a 1995 Ferris graduate. “The competition is hard to match. There are some great coaches.”

Ferris athletic director Stacey Ward said Coulter will be missed.

“He was an excellent coach who had a kind and gentle way of teaching the game of basketball,” Ward said. “At the same time he was fiercely competitive and always managed to blend those qualities in a positive way. The girls were stunned when he told them he was resigning.”

Coulter believes he’s leaving the program in good shape. Ferris will return one starter and four other players who came off the bench.

“I feel like there’s a lot to build on – there’s a good foundation,” he said.

Jim Redmon, who coaches Ferris’ rival school just down the hill at Lewis and Clark, will miss not seeing Coulter on the sideline.

“I highly respect his decision,” Redmon said. “It’s a shame for our league. He’s done a really good job at Ferris.”

Ward said the application deadline for the position is today. It’s been posted with no teaching job attached.

All-State games

The 2014 Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association (WIBCA) All-State boys games will be Saturday at Eastside Catholic High School.

The 2B and 1B game is at 2, followed by 1A vs. 2A at 4 and capped with 4A vs. 3A at 6.

Here are the area players scheduled to play: 1B – Brodie Ford (Wellpinit), Dalton Patchen and Jake Straughan (Colton) and Nick Cox and Bo Piersol (Valley Christian); 2B – Dexter Sienko and Erik Muelheims (St. George’s) and Dylan Hartz (Lind-Ritzville/Sprague); 2A – Jake Love (West Valley), Matt Hubbard (Colville) and Race Martin (Pullman); 3A – Michael Isotalo (University); and 4A – Cody Benzel (Ferris) and Sam Dowd (Gonzaga Prep).

The WIBCA also will present its awards for state players of the year, coaches of the year and the state Mr. Basketball honor, which goes to Jason Todd of Jackson. Sienko was named the 2B player of the year and Straughan was named the 1B player of the year.

Craig Brantner of Pullman was named the 2A coach of the year and Seth Paine of Colton was named the 1B coach of the year.

• The 2014 Washington State Girls Basketball Coaches Association (WSGBCA) All-State girls games will be Saturday at King’s High School.

The 2B and 1B game is at 2, the 1A and 2A play at 4 and the 3A and 4A game is at 6.

Here are the area players scheduled to play: 1B – Jackie Warner and Jenna Moser (Colton), Kaelee Reed (Wilbur-Creston) and Mackenzie Reddish (Rosalia); 2B – Natalee Hayes (Davenport); 1A – Katie Vold (Freeman); 3A – Morgan Hawley (University); and 4A – Delany Junkermier (Mead), Hannah Caudill (Gonzaga Prep) and Mariah Cunningham (Central Valley).

The WSGBCA will also present its awards for players of the year, coaches of the year and the state Miss Basketball honor. St. George’s coach Mark Richard, who will coach the 2B team, will receive a coach of the year award. Clark Vining of Colton is coaching the 1B team.

SPU bound

Lewis and Clark guard Lindsay Lee is headed to NCAA Division II Seattle Pacific University next year.

The 5-foot-8 Lee averaged 8.7 points per game in league this season.

Lee was also being recruited by Saint Martin’s.

A year ago Lee couldn’t have envisioned playing in college.

“Not at all,” she said. “I’m really blessed to have the opportunity. I’m really glad my career is not done.”

She earned a special place in LC coach Jim Redmon’s heart. Going into her junior year, Lee was ranked 12th in LC’s program, Redmon said.

“She has been one of the hardest working kids I have coached,” Redmon said. “She was someone who took a vision and a dream and worked on her individual skills tirelessly, and she is going to play for a great program in Seattle. She is a prime example of hard work does pay off. I am very proud of her with where she was and now what she has become is incredible.”

State records broken

A couple of girls basketball state tournament records were broken – one involving a former area standout.

Senior Brittany McPhee of Mt. Rainier eclipsed the 4A mark for most career points set by former University star Angie Bjorklund.

Bjorklund scored 257 points. McPhee actually leaped over Bjorklund in the first half of the final against Gonzaga Prep. She finished with 268.

• Senior Jessica Boyer of Wilbur-Creston broke the 1B single-game scoring record when she scored 42 points as the Wildcats captured fourth place. The previous record was 36, set by Ksenja Fredere of Wilson Creek in 2010.