Girls Get Bigger - And Better Greater Spokane League Rosters Dotted With Versatile 6-Footers

Back when Janet Wolkey Skaife was finishing her Greater Spokane League basketball career at Ferris, today’s point guards were yesterday’s centers.

That’s why she enjoys looking out and seeing 6-foot-1 Jennifer Swinton playing the post for the Saxons.

“When I was in school, you were considered a big girl if you were 5-9, 5-10,” said Skaife, the Saxons coach and a 1982 Ferris graduate. “Having a 6-footer on your team was almost unheard of.”

Swinton is just one of 10 6-footers dotting the GSL rosters, and is arguably the best, though she’s in for a long battle to prove herself.

“I think the quality of the big girl is improving because they’re becoming versatile, they’re moving away from the basket,” Skaife said. “I think Jennifer will be challenged the whole game, she’ll have the toughest defenders on her and she’ll have to guard the toughest.”

If the thoughtful and friendly Swinton can keep her game face on every night, she should be able to meet the challenge.

“It’s kind of hard, we all play in (AAU) Stars together,” Swinton said. “We’re all friends but when you get in season you have to compete, especially in the post, where you have to throw elbows and stuff.

“In tough games it’s easy to make rivals when you don’t know somebody, but with the others you know you’ll still be friends.”

Swinton realizes if she lets up, her good friend Syd Perno, University’s strong 6-foot post, Mead’s daunting trio of 6-3 Jennifer Bennett, 6-1 Chelsea Clark and 6-1 Jennifer Clark, or Gonzaga Prep’s 6-1 twin towers of Jennifer Williams and Theresa Palmer will let her have it.

“I don’t think anybody lets up because we’re friends, we’re still really competitive,” Swinton said. “It’s good because it makes you better, makes you have to work, especially in regards to college when everybody has somebody tall. It’s bad because there are only so many teams that can go to state.”

Swinton has the college part down, signing early with the University of Portland after averaging 10.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and more than three assists and two steals per game to make the All-GSL second team and The Spokesman-Review’s first AllArea team.

However, she knows there is much work to be done.

She said her weaknesses, “outside of conditioning,” were ballhandling and perimeter play. “I also have to get stronger; in college I’ll go up against bigger people.”

She also knows intensity is important.

“I want to know, when I go out on the floor, I’m ready to play,” Swinton said. “Stacy (Clinesmith, Mead’s MVP guard) is the epitome. Before the game she can talk to anyone, but when the game starts, you can just tell she’s ready to play - nothing else matters. I think I’m getting closer. I’m closer than I’ve ever been.”

Swinton’s strength, and what gives her a slight end on her friendly rivals, is her ability to get up and down the floor.

She credits her mobility to years of playing soccer and a recent switch to volleyball for improving her footwork, endurance and jumping ability.

Another factor in Swinton’s favor is her enthusiasm. She tried basketball in grade school but gave it up because, “I didn’t understand it, I was just lost.”

By the time she was a freshman, she was 5-10 and ready to learn.

“I think it almost gave me an advantage,” she said. “To this day, I see people who played since (grade school) and are kind of burned out. I still love it.

“I wonder, if I didn’t have this height, if I’d be this good, if I would have had the chance. I still feel really grateful.”

As is her coach.

“I think her best basketball is yet to be seen,” Skaife said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Preseason all-GSL picks MVP- S. Clinesmith, Mead, sr. F - Crystal Lee, Central Valley, jr. F - Syd Perno, University, sr. C - Jennifer Swinton, Ferris, sr. G - Jayme Morrisette, Ferris, sr. G - Holly Turner, Mead, jr.