Lakeside’s Jolley Would Like To Get Her Kicks In Seattle
Lakeside’s junior star Brianne Jolley wouldn’t mind traveling down the same path as Cascade senior star Megan Franza - and the road leads to Seattle.
Franza, the outstanding senior from Cascade of Leavenworth, will compete in basketball and as a high jumper on the track and field team at the University of Washington. The 5-foot-10 guard competed against Purdue’s Corissa Yasen of Coeur d’Alene in the heptathlon at last summer’s Olympic Trials.
But unlike Yasen, a fifth-year senior who was a rookie on the Boilermakers basketball team, Franza said she will play both sports during the same school year. Franza already has jumped 6 feet, inch, third-best in the country among high school girls.
In Wednesday’s Cascade opener against LaCenter at the girls State A high school basketball tournament, UW women’s basketball coach June Daugherty was sitting courtside. Daugherty’s prize recruit didn’t let her down. Franza outscored the LaCenter team 26-25, and in the first 3:40 of the game she hit three 3-pointers.
Franza said she selected UW because, “I wanted to stay close to home.”
As for passing up Washington State, Franza added, “The program at UW is stronger and basketball is the most important thing right now. I never really considered Washington State. I’ve never been to Pullman.”
Daugherty also got a glimpse of Jolley in the Eagles’ blowout opener against Charles Wright Academy. Jolley delivered by scoring 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting.
“As an NCAA rule, I can’t comment specifically on a kid’s ability. But a lot of Division I schools are taking a look at her,” Daugherty said.
Jolley, a 5-11 slashing guard who’s style is similar to Franza’s, said her No. 1 college choice is Washington.
10,000 maniacs a day
The opening day’s two sessions brought 10,292 spectators to the Tacoma Dome, followed by 10,636 on Thursday. The Dome can seat about 17,000 for this event.
This year, the Tacoma Dome floor configuration has been changed from the T-shape to that of the State B tournament at the Arena. The courts are parallel so fans can watch both games simultaneously.
However, there was one small glitch, which has nothing to do with the courts’ design. Because of Thursday’s steady rainfall, the Dome sprung a leak. One wet spot was on the girls court, forcing an official to stand courtside with towel in hand so she could constantly mop the wet spot. On Friday, the sun came out.
LaCenter of attention
LaCenter brothers Derek and Dustin VanWeerdhuizen have been two high-profile players at state. And they’ve lived up to their hype. Derek, a 6-5 senior wing, averaged 23.6 points in two games, second-best in the tournament. His kid brother, 6-5 junior point guard Dustin, averaged 23.5, third-best.
Next year, Derek will play at High Point College, a Division II college in North Carolina. A third VanWeerdhuizen, Damon, is in his final year there.
Dustin, whom LaCenter coach Forbes Lapp said is the best of the three, has received feelers from EWU. Gonzaga, St. Joseph’s, Portland and Illinois State.
Chelan 6-9 junior Phil Cullen, considered the top State A boys’ recruit, said Washington, Washington State, Utah, Stanford, USC and others have shown interest. Throw Gonzaga into the sweepstakes. GU coach Dan Monson attended Friday night’s Chelan vs. La Center semifinal game. Cullen finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots in a losing effort.
Cullen, who had a Class A single-game record with eight blocked shots against Goldendale in the quarterfinals, said he hasn’t made a decision.
, DataTimes