Cda’s Young Has Winning Ways

Winning basketball titles never gets old for Mindy Young.

Young was part of two state championship teams at Coeur d’Alene High and she racked up another on Saturday night as Ricks downed Utah Valley 70-63 for the Region 18 Tournament title at College of Southern Idaho’s gym.

This is Ricks’ third consecutive title. Young played on last year’s winning team, but this one was the sweetest of them all, she said.

“We get to go to nationals this time,” said Young. The 1993-94 Vikings lost in a play-in game to qualify for nationals.

Young scored 13 points. She had eight as the top-seeded Vikings increased its 35-32 lead to a 60-45 lead - the final three points coming on Young’s 3-pointer.

Utah Valley, which lost five players during the season to knee injuries and academic troubles, closed within six, but Ricks’ made eight straight foul shots in the final minute.

The second-seeded Wolverines finished 28-4. Ricks (30-2) advanced to nationals March 14-18 at Tyler, Texas.

Young, a sophomore guard, plans on attending Brigham Young next year on an academic scholarship. She won’t continue playing basketball.

“I’m going to miss it,” she said.

Turner, Thompson honored

North Idaho College sophomore guard Eddie Turner was named to the All- Region 18 second team.

College of Southern Idaho’s Ed Gray was named Region 18 MVP. He was joined on the first team by CSI forward Shawn Bankhead.

Other first-team selections were Utah Valley’s Bryon Ruffner, Ricks’ Ben Caton, Salt Lake’s Marcel Johnson and Eastern Utah’s Kenneth Pratt.

Joining Turner on the second team were Dixie’s Kevin Simpson, Chancellor Davis and Jason Jackman, Eastern Utah’s Rosell Ellis and Snow’s Seth Miller.

Honorable mention picks included Ricks’ Clay Anderson, CSI’s Aylton Tesch, Salt Lake’s Don Faux, Snow’s Brad Bodily, Treasure Valley’s Shawn Moore, Utah Valley’s Dave Sivulich and Colorado Northwestern’s Lawrence Hollier.

Turner and teammate Troy Thompson were chosen to the All-tournament team. Others selected were Johnson, Ruffner, Bankhead and Gray, the MVP.

Ricks’ Lisa Thueson was the women’s MVP for All-Region 18 and All- tournament. First-team Region 18 members were Utah Valley’s Kim Morris, Salt Lake’s Krista Wardle, CSI’s Marcy Jenkins, Ricks’ Melinda Gee and Snow’s Tiffanie Lorensen.

North Idaho College sophomore forward Michelle Greenwood made second team. Others honored were Eastern Utah’s Natalie Hawks and Lindsay Allen, Utah Valley’s Marci Stilson, Dixie’s Jessica Cooper and Salt Lake’s Laura Goulding.

All-tournament team members were Gee, Thueson, Jenkins, Morris, Utah Valley’s Jodi Hawkins and Eastern Utah’s Rebecca Elison.

Ricks’ Trent Shippen was voted coach of the year.