Gone But Not Forgotten: Area Grads Showing Class

Women’s basketball

The Spokane area has put itself on the Division I women’s basketball map. And much of that is a result of the class of 1994.

While there has always been a standout player or two from the area going on to the Division I level, one would be hard-pressed to find the overall talent of last year.

Here is a list detailing how some of last year’s class have done since moving on. Also included are a few area players having good seasons who aren’t members of the class of ‘94. Statistics don’t include last weekend’s games.

Heather Owen, from Moscow High, now at Stanford, freshman. The 6-foot-2 forward has earned an important role on the nation’s fourth-ranked team. Owen is averaging 6.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Regan Freuen, from Mead High, now at Stanford, freshman. The 6-foot guard is averaging 2.4 points and 5 minutes per game.

Kari Hutchinson, from St. George’s High, now at Notre Dame, freshman. Hutchinson has played in 13 of the Fighting Irish’s first 15 games, including four starts. She is shooting 37 percent from the field, while averaging 4.0 points and 3.0 assists per game.

Kelli Johnson, from Moscow High, now at Idaho, freshman. Johnson is having a solid freshman year, averaging 10.6 points per game and leads the Big Sky Conference with 36 3-pointers.

Kerri Wykes, from Coeur d’Alene High, now at Idaho, junior. Wykes has started in 13 of the Vandals’ first 17 games. She is averaging 7.2 rebounds and 5.7 points per game.

Keri Schwenke, from Coeur d’Alene High, now at Eastern Washington, senior. Averaging 3.2 points per game this season. Had arthroscopic knee surgery before the season. Her 115 3-pointers is second in Eagles history.

Nicole King, from University High, now at Eastern Washington, senior. Suffered a season-ending knee injury after five games. Will most likely be granted a redshirt season for 1994-95. She was averaging 13.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game before the injury.

Lori Napier, from Medical Lake High, now at Eastern Washington, senior. Averaging 13.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Is third in the Big Sky Conference in scoring, first in rebounding, and first in field-goal percentage (.511).

Courtney Hepton, from Central Valley High, now at Saint Mary’s, junior. Fourth in the West Coast Conference in field goal percentage (50 percent) and leads the team in scoring in conference play with 15.7 points per game.

Regan McCliment, from Central Valley High, now at Gonzaga, freshman. Averaging 1.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8 minutes per game.

Kristin Hepton, from Central Valley High, now at Portland, freshman. A medical redhsirt this season. She injured a kneecap in a preseason practice.

Chrystal Grubbs, from Lakeside High; quit the Gonzaga team.

Tanya Kirk, from Central Valley High; left Northern Arizona to enroll at the Community Colleges of Spokane. She plans to play basketball at CCS next season.

Chrystal Pakootas, from Mead High; left UCLA after one quarter to enroll at the Community Colleges of Spokane. She’ll examine her options after this season.

Angella Bieber, from University High, now at Montana, freshman. Averaging 2.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in just less than 11 minutes per game.

Jacqui Clark, from Central Valley High, now at Arizona, sophomore. Averaging 17 minutes, 5.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. She is shooting just less than 50 percent from the field.

Colleen Flanigan, from Mead High, now at Santa Clara, sophomore. Has not played this season as a result of complications to an anterior cruciate ligament tear. Flanigan has used her redshirt year and will have two seasons remaining after the season. Future playing career undetermined.