Undaunted Trowbridge Sticks With Basketball And Dragons

During junior high school, basketball rivals Dawn Trowbridge and Stacy Clinesmith often played to a stalemate.

Two knee surgeries later, Trowbridge can only wonder how she’d fare against Clinesmith, the Greater Spokane League most valuable player from Mead.

“I think she has a step on me,” said Trowbridge, a senior, “but I think I could hold my own.”

Trowbridge, who attended Mead Junior High, and Clinesmith (Northwood) would be on the same roster if Trowbridge hadn’t transferred to St. George’s as a freshman. Trowbridge’s brother had played baseball for Ross Thomas, also the Dragons’ girls basketball coach.

“I just wanted to look at St. George’s (basketball) for a year to see if I liked it,” Trowbridge said. “The girls were all great, and I ended up just liking the school itself.”

Thomas was eager to mix Trowbridge with the likes of Kari Hutchinson and Chrissy Peterson, team leaders of the past. Right from the start, Thomas’ hopes faded.

During a November scrimmage in her freshman season, Trowbridge tore cartilage in her left knee while attempting to block a shot.

Exactly one year later, Trowbridge injured the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee while attempting to change directions on the court.

“After going through (surgeries) twice, I was wondering if it was worth it or maybe it wasn’t meant to be,” Trowbridge said. “My parents didn’t want me to be 25 and not be able to walk.”

Yet Trowbridge stuck with the game and helped the Dragons to last year’s State B Tournament. This season, she feels stronger and less tentative.

“I’m proud of her,” Thomas said. “She throws herself around (the court) more than someone who’s never had a scratch. Every practice she doesn’t get hurt, we just kind of light a candle.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PANORAMA LEAGUE Information on the Panorama League, which begins Friday: Defending champions: Girls: North - Columbia and Inchelium; South - St. George’s. Boys: North - Curlew; South - Northwest Christian. Returning all-league players: Girls - Celeste Allen, Wellpinit; Melissa Friend, Republic; Josslinn Skidmore, Columbia; Joelle Kaatz, Curlew; Emily Mallory, Inchelium; Cindy Cates, Springdale; Dawn Trowbridge, St. George’s; Jenni Wright and Heidi Simmons, NWC. Boys - Jason Ala, St. George’s; Wes Paul, Curlew; Mark Rickard, Republic; Nathan Dial, Selkirk; Shawn Christianson, Inchelium; Adrian Holt, Wellpinit. Favorites: Girls: North - Wellpinit, Inchelium. South - St. George’s, NWC. Boys: North - Republic. South - St. George’s. Departures: All-leaguers Jeff Meyers and Nate Dunham left NWC for Shadle Park. Jonathan Wakefield (10 ppg) moved away from Curlew. Brian Coe (13 ppg) transferred from Springdale to Lakeside. Hard to believe: Curlew’s boys started last year 24-0 but failed to qualify for state. The St. George’s girls have won 96 consecutive league games.