Sure Bet Gsl Girls Hoops Best In State

REPLAY: 12-11-97; N15 Mead High School junior Shannon Leaf is playing on Mead’s varsity basketball team. Her name was inadvertently left out of last week’s North Voice round-up of GSL girls basketball.

Greater Spokane League girls basketball has a well-deserved reputation for being the best in state. Each year the competition within the league gets more intense.

“Every year there are more and more good players and teams,” said Shadle Park coach Linda Sheridan, who has two of the league’s six state titles since 1988.

Four North Side schools expect to be in the mix again when the GSL begins competition next week.

“There are so many good teams in league,” said Rogers coach Drew Vanderpool. “Ferris, CV and Mead are favored and then there’s the rest of us.”

Mead has a new coach in Beth Wing. Rogers, Gonzaga Prep and Shadle should be in the hunt for six district playoff berths.

“I’d be very surprised if all teams don’t have several losses,” said Sheridan.

This weekend the schools are playing two non-league games. Next Friday’s league start includes the Highlanders at Rogers at 6:45 p.m.

Another interesting matchup will be the game between Mead and Mt. Spokane, whose coach, Jeanne Helfer, will be facing the team she coached for 14 years.

New coach, veteran team at Mead

Wing spent two years as an assistant at Mead before being named head coach when Helfer changed schools.

“I’ve been ready for it a long time,” said Wing. “I’m really excited.”

Half a dozen returnees will make the transition easier.

Back are 6-foot post Allie Bailey, guards Danielle Zelinski, Natalie Kehl, Staci Schuerman and 6-foot Holly Meyers, and junior Morgan Bennett.

“I think it’s great having the nucleus coming back,” said Wing.

Stepping in are seniors Brandi Curry and April Gallagher, juniors Becky Slater and sophomore Courtney Ferguson.

“We’re going to move the ball, play full court defense and be really aggressive,” said Wing. “I feel we have the team that does best taking it to people.”

Bullpups put size on court

Gonzaga Prep lost three vital cogs from last year’s state qualifying team because of graduation.

It doesn’t mean, however, that the young Bullpups can’t contend again.

They could conceivably start a lineup of players standing 5-foot-11 and taller.

“That’s something considering five years ago we were playing 5-7 posts that we listed as 5-10,” said coach Mike Arte.

They are, however, inexperienced. Besides 6-foot wing Paulette Jordan, there’s nary a returning starter.

“She’ll carry the offensive load,” said Arte.

Prep will start 6-foot sophomore Julianne Laney at point and 6-1 North Side sophomore Stephanie Housam inside.

Varsity veteran Christy Bloom or sophomore Whitney Gibbon will play a wing. Another varsity returnee, 5-11 Meghann Green, will start inside.

Back after a year’s absence is 6-1 senior North Sider Shawna Millersmith.

Junior 5-11 newcomer Amy Lindstrom, a transfer from Australia, has the skills to crack the lineup.

“She shoots and gets up and down the floor,” said Arte. “She doesn’t understand set offenses.”

North Side players back from last year’s team are post Mary Machtolf and point guard Kristi Boren. Newcomers are sophomore Carly Barnes and senior Sophia Housam.

Talent returning to Shadle

Half a dozen players are back and several newcomers will find themselves in the lineup when Shadle takes to the court.

“I think we have more talent than the last few years,” said Sheridan. “We have more basketball players and some good athletes.”

Veteran Highlanders include scoring leader Sara Harchuck and fellow seniors Brooke Olzendam and Tara Buckley.

Juniors are volleyball star Michelle Etter, Rachelle Stockman and Aubrie Caldwell.

They’ll be joined by 6-foot post Holly Fay and McKenzie Kiritz, who will rotate with Etter.

“That gives us a little more in the middle than we’ve had in past years,” said Sheridan.

Sophomore newcomers are Amy Ridings, who will share point guard with Caldwell, and Katie Schurra and Andrea McGrath.

“We’re just a little bigger and quicker than we’ve been for a while,” said Sheridan. “It’s fun to think we’re back in there.”

Veteran Rogers to take it inside

Vanderpool expects to rely heavily on his two returning starting post players.

Monica Abrahamson and Angel Fairbanks are two of the seven returnees from last year’s team.

“We’ve got a lot of experience and will look to go inside more this year,” said Vanderpool.

Also returned are point guard Katie Logue, Christine Delger and Jill Hatch, who will assume the guard positions. Malea Wright and Crystal Perry also saw varsity action.

New to the team are senior Shelley Zahrowski, juniors Courtney Davis and Lallah Marston, and sophomore Sarah Bayne.

“I’d like to see improvement, but it’s hard to say,” said Vanderpool. “What’s nice is all are returning players who know the system.”

Program building continues at NC

Coach John Reid’s third season as Indian coach will be much the same as he continues to build a program.

Only four players return from last year, and the remainder of his roster will be extremely young.

“Three kids who never even played junior varsity will start,” he said. “Each and every day they are getting better and stronger.”

Back from last year’s team are senior Beth White, and juniors Amber Carter, Ielia Ellenwood and Alice Stearns.

The remainder of his core players are senior Angie Estland, junior Jennifer Knudsen, and sophomores Deanne Graesser, Sara Holdren and Jennifer Webber.

Rounding out the lineup are sophomores Sarah Eschenbacher, Jennifer Kennedy, Nicole Bostic and Annie Davis.

“Are we ever young,” said Reid. “Last year’s freshman group won seven games and we’re trying to keep them together. The difficulty, because of low numbers, is we have to move them up before they’re ready.”

New perspective for coach

It’s been awhile since Helfer has faced the task of developing a program like she must at Mt. Spokane.

At Mead she won two state championships, finished second in state once and compiled a 268-116 record with six league titles.

“Sometimes people forget,” she said. “I remember the very first year of 6-14. I remember the struggles and successes we had.”

Successes, she continued, don’t necessarily mean wins, and with a turnout of four juniors and 13 sophomores, the Wildcats will likely be thrown to the GSL wolves.

“I have to be more patient,” said Helfer, who nearly resigned as coach for family reasons. “Our expectations have to be realistic.

Former league stars Colleen Flanigan and Jen Tissue are helping longtime assistant Carl Barschig.

Making up the Mt. Spokane team dare juniors Jen Neihart, Bree Klobucher, Michelle Gemmill and Ashley Anderson, and sophomores Elina Gee, Angie Atwood, Erin Monroe, Jen Louck, Kassie Kitchen, Megan Brumleve, Jen Wetzel, Amy Weatherman, Shawna Powell, Amanda Schafer, Lindsey Anderson, Josela Greenland and Evelyn Spivey.

Although wins will be few, Helfer said she expects the same level of effort she demanded at Mead.

“Work hard or don’t waste my time,” she said. “This is a tremendous bunch of young ladies. I could have stayed at the other school, but I took this as a challenge,”

Sometimes people are consumed by winning, said Helfer, which is the byproduct of doing good things in the program.

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