Mead Girls Preparing To Make A Fast Break To State Championship

GSL girls basketball

The first thing Greater Spokane League girls basketball teams on the North Side need to know is they’re not going to catch Mead.

The Panthers Express is running full throttle.

The worst-case scenario for Jeanne Helfer’s club is to make state for the seventh straight year and bring home a top-five trophy.

In reality, the Panthers have their eye on the big prize: the school’s third state championship in the 1990s.

“We’ve seen remarkable improvement,” Helfer said a week into practice. “We haven’t had a game, and it’s easy to look good in practice, but our experience will help.

“Everybody’s aware we basically return everybody.”

That’s everybody from a team that went 25-4 and place fifth at state.

Meanwhile, their North Side neighbors are rebuilding.

Shadle Park has its shortest team in Linda Sheridan’s 20-year career.

Rogers and North Central both have new coaches for teams that are short on both size and experience.

This trio will be looking for improvement and maybe a taste of post-season play.

Mead - stopper by committee

The lone Mead starter lost to graduation was Jodi Cory, who earned first-team All-GSL honors because her 6.5 scoring average was higher than whomever she was guarding.

“Last year we counted on Jodi, and she went post and guard,” Helfer said. “This year I think we’ll use multiple players (to stop the opponent’s top threat).”

Right now Shannon Roberts and Allison Beatty are heirs apparent.

Stacy Clinesmith could handle the role, but she has enough to do as the top point guard in not only the league but in the state.

She was co-most valuable player and the No. 2 scorer in the GSL last year and was state tournament MVP with an even higher scoring average.

Junior guard Holly Turner is another offensive threat, but the real pressure is up front on 6-1 seniors Chelsea Clark, who already has signed with Gonzaga University, and Jennifer Clark, and 6-3 junior Jennifer Bennett.

Adding depth are a pair of 5-10 forwards, senior Ann Marie Edburg and junior Jamie Wakefield. The newcomers are guards Amber Lunzer, a 5-6 senior, and Kellie Leaf, a 5-5 junior.

Highlanders face height challenge

“We have no height,” Sheridan said. “We don’t have a legitimate post on the team. I’ve never not had a legitimate post.”

Almost all the Highlanders are listed at multiple positions, indicating a post-by-committee situation.

The returning veterans from last year’s state participant are seniors Kelli Pilkington, JoEne Heimbigner, Johanna Alexander, Courtney Clary, Rainie Drake and Mary Johnson.

Pilkington and Heimbigner are Shadle’s “giants” at 5-10.

Three juniors - Vanessa Larkin, Harmony Nelson and Joy Potter - and sophomores Emily Christensen, Brooke Olzendam and Sara Harchuck join the battle.

“We actually had pretty good luck this summer with this group of kids,” Sheridan said. “These are great kids that give me 100 percent.”

To overcome the size disadvantage, Shadle will try to do a few things well rather than a lot of things, Sheridan said.

“We’re lacking a little in leadership from last year; we’ll have to see how that shakes out,” said Sheridan.

“It will be fun. We might get to try some new ideas.”

Pirates have good attitude

While new coach Drew Vanderpool is learning about the league, the Pirates must learn the coach’s ways, developed from a decade of coaching in California.

“I’ve been a head coach for 12 years, doing the same things I’ve always done,” Vanderpool said.

“We’ll mix it up. I like to play man defense, but it’s difficult to teach it in a short period of time. We’ll press when we can.”

Guards Jaimie Christiensen, a junior, and senior Mandy Flores give the Pirates veteran speed in the backcourt. Senior Teana Scott provides a 6-foot presence inside. After that it’s all newcomers.

The list includes seniors Jenifor Wells, Brandie Connors and Tami Bertholf, juniors Lemandy Tannehill and Anna Mullerleile and sophomores Christina Delger, Monica Abrahamson, Terra Callagahn and Angel Fairbanks.

“They’re doing everything very well,” Vanderpool said. “They have a good attitude, very positive, and they listen well. We’re spending a lot of time on the basics.

“It’s been a lot for them, but they’re very positive.”

NC coach fired up

“It’s fabulous. I love being here,” NC rookie coach John Reid said after the first week of practice.

His family fell in love with Spokane during a visit and moved here without jobs.

He landed a position as an elementary school physical education teacher and was ready to return to coaching when the opportunity later arose. Now he’s passing on the enthusiasm.

NC does have a little experience but, said Reid, “we’re going to be a mystery.”

Seniors Aimee Wilson, Tera Young, Meagan DeLauder, Amber Johnson, and Erin Schumacher and juniors Lisa Hammond and Shannon Nelson return but have very little success to fall back on.

“We’re going to have to get used to handling pressure, because we’re going to get pressured a lot,” Reid said. “Hopefully, we’ll make the right reads and reactions.”

Among the newcomers, 6-1 junior Rache Stotts-Johnson provides the only height. The others are seniors Lori Kostelecky, Katy Meredith and Jamie Smith, and junior Reana Emery-Cloy.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo