Breaking Down The Girls

Wed., March 3, 1999

Seattle Lutheran Saints

Record: 22-7

Coach: Bruce Carbon, 18th season, 313-152

First-round opponent: Waterville

Route to state: Defeated Clallam Bay 42-35 at District 1-2-3 tournament.

Top players: Brittney Christopher, 5-11, sr., forward/center, 17 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 apg, 2 spg; Carrie Fulton, 5-10, sr., forward/center, 10.6 ppg, 6 rpg; Stephanie Reed, 5-9, sr., guard/forward, 10.2 ppg, 4 rpg; Heather Cook, 5-7, sr., guard, 4.6 ppg; Danielle King, 5-5, soph., guard, .8 ppg.

Fast fact: The Saints, making their 10th state appearance and first since 1995, have no legitimate point guard. Their guard lineup depends on the defense.

Outlook: They placed twice, seventh in both ‘87 and ‘92, and could finish as high as fifth this year with an experienced bunch of seniors.

Waterville Shockers

Record: 19-5

Coach: Ed Worthen, third year

First-round opponent: Seattle Lutheran

Route to state: Defeated Manson 53-36 at District 6 tournament.

Top players: Rebecca Willms, 5-10, sr., center, 10.3 ppg; Catrina Dawson, 5-5, soph., guard, 10 ppg; Abby Jordan, 5-8, fr., forward, 6.0 ppg; Audra Koch, 5-6, jr., guard, 5.6 ppg; Daniela Reyes, 5-8, sr., center, 5.8 ppg.

Fast fact: Waterville is young but has depth and plays 10 girls. Worthen subs in five players at a time every four minutes.

Outlook: The Shockers have placed sixth and seventh, respectively, in their two previous trips to state and should finish higher this time. They last made it in ‘96, finishing sixth.

Pe Ell Trojans

Record: 18-7

Coach: Dawna Robinson, third year

First-round opponent: Waitsburg

Route to state: Defeated South Bend 59-50 at District 4 tournament.

Top players: Kelsey Cox, 5-3, jr., guard, 21.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg; Trisha Lusk, 5-8, sr., forward/guard, 10.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg; Anne Coleman, 5-7, soph., guard, 10 ppg, 6.1 rpg; Denise Arnold, 5-10, soph., center, 4.7 ppg, 9.8 rpg; Terra Evans, 5-4, soph., guard, 6.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg.

Fast fact: Pe Ell will crash the offensive glass. The Trojans average nearly 41 rebounds a game and had 522 offensive boards through 23 games - more than a hundred more than on the defensive end.

Outlook: Their first state appearance probably will only last two games.

Waitsburg Cardinals

Record: 22-2

Coach: Jerry Baker, second year

First-round opponent: Pe Ell

Route to state: Defeated Tekoa-Oakesdale 48-32 at District 9 tournament.

Top players: Anne Bickelhaupt, 6-3, sr., post, 17.3 ppg, 9 rpg, 6 bpg; Wendy Jones, 5-4, sr., guard, 11.1 ppg, 4 apg, 5 spg; Kelly McCaw, 5-8, sr., forward, 12.6 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg; Justina Ryckman, 5-6, sr., forward, 10.3 ppg, 3 spg, 3 apg; Beth Abbey, 5-10, sr., forward, 7.5 ppg, 7 rpg.

Fast fact: Bickelhaupt had 18 blocks in last year’s tournament, including nine against T-O.

Outlook: With a quick lineup and lots of scoring threats, look for Waitsburg to reach Saturday’s title game.

King’s West Warriors

Record: 21-3

Coach: Tom Oliver, eighth year, 137-48

First-round opponent: Wilbur-Creston

Route to state: Defeated Seattle Lutheran 49-27 at District 1-2-3 tournament.

Top players: Lindsay Friesen, 5-8, sr., forward, 17.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg; Melissa Wallace, 6-2, sr., center, 11.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg; Paige Kuske, 5-9, sr., forward/center, 6.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg; Becka Beard, 5-5, sr., guard, 12.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg; Kasey Treger, 5-8, jr., forward, 3.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg.

Fast fact: The Bremerton school has lost only one home game in three years and it happened this season to King’s, which will compete in this week’s State 1A tournament.

Outlook: The Warriors haven’t won a game in two trips to state and will have a tough go in their third. They do have experience, though, as six seniors are making their third trip to state.

Wilbur-Creston Wildcats

Record: 21-5

Coach: Denise Wilkie, first year

First-round opponent: King’s West Route to state: Defeated Ritzville 39-32 at District 7 tournament.

Top players: Alyssa Erickson, 5-8, sr., guard, 17.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg; Cherie Dreger, 5-10, soph., forward, 14.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg; Amanda Matt, 5-4, soph., guard, 7.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg; Leanne Snavely, 5-10, soph., post, 9.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg; Lindsay Sherwood, 5-6, jr., wing, 5.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg.

Fast fact: Erickson has 1,333 career points and the Wildcats are 89-22 with her around.

Outlook: W-C should reach the semis but will have a tough test if Waitsburg advances.

Willapa Valley Vikings

Record: 21-2

Coach: Tom Betrozoff, 13th season

First-round opponent: Cascade Christian

Route to state: Defeated Mossyrock 47-32 at District 4 tournament.

Top players:Laci Bannish, 5-9, jr., guard, 11.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg; Jess Seiler, 5-9, sr., wing, 9.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg; Hope Adams, 9.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg; Becky Babka, 5-8, jr., post, 10 ppg, 4.6 rpg; Emily Burton, 5-10, soph., post, 8.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg.

Fast fact: The Vikings are making their 11th state appearance and first since 1992.

Outlook: Making the trophy round is possible despite having just one senior.

Cascade Christian Cougars

Record: 22-2

Coach: Darrel Shively, sixth year

First-round opponent: Willapa Valley

Route to state: Defeated King’s West 68-54 at District 1-2-3 tournament.

Top players: Jackie Shively, 5-9, sr., center, 10.2 ppg; Jodi Gerald, 5-10, soph., guard, 12.5 ppg; Kristen List, 5-7, jr., guard, 10.4 ppg; Dixie McDermott, 5-9, sr., guard, 7.9 ppg; Cameron Johnson, 5-11, jr., center, 5.6 ppg. Fast fact: Cascade Christian, a 6-year-old school in Puyallup, has strong guard play and likes to run the floor.

Outlook: The Cougars went 0-2 in their first trip to state last year but should win one this time.

Summit Invaders

Record: 21-4

Coach: Kevin Davis

First-round opponent: St. George’s

Route to state: Defeated Clallam Bay 44-37 at District 1-2-3 tournament.

Top players: Alexis Rhodes, 6-1, sr., center, 18 ppg; Artese Hawkins, 5-9, sr., guard/forward, 14 ppg; Laney Coyne, 5-6, sr., guard, 11 ppg; Tiera Greig, 5-7, sr., guard, 8 ppg; Jessica Marshall, 5-10, soph., guard/forward, 6 ppg.

Fast fact: The Invaders are making their third trip to state after qualifying in ‘96 and ‘97.

Outlook: They face the top-ranked team in the first round and it could be rough in the losers’ bracket.

St. George’s Dragons

Record: 24-2

Coach: Ross Thomas, 15th year, 308-99

First-round opponent: Summit

Route to state: Defeated Republic 49-31 at District 7 tournament.

Top players: Wenchi Liu, 5-4, jr., point guard, 11.4 ppg, 8.2 apg, 6.6 spg; Alyssa Henley, 5-11, jr., center, 15.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg; Samantha Clarke, 5-5, soph., guard, 7.4 ppg, 5.8 spg, 4.2 apg; Katie DePonty, 5-9, soph., post, 11.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg; Abbey Blume, 5-6, jr., guard, 4.5 ppg, 5.9 spg.

Fast fact: The Dragons have qualified for eight tourneys this decade.

Outlook: Under the direction of Liu, one of the state’s top point guards, look for the Dragons in the title game.

Tekoa-Oakesdale Nighthawks

Record: 20-6

Coach: Ron Cox, first year (20 years with T-O boys)

First-round opponent: Sunnyside Christian

Route to state: Defeated Garfield-Palouse 44-26 at District 9 tournament.

Top players: Heather Cox, 6-0, sr., forward, 17.6 ppg; Christa Graffis, 6-0, sr., forward, 9.1 ppg; Betsy Smart, 5-7, soph., guard, 8.3 ppg; Janette Bruce, 5-8, soph., forward, 6 ppg; Christen Smith, 5-8, soph., guard, 5.7 ppg.

Fast fact: Heather Cox has 1,353 career points and her father Ron is the tournament’s all-time leading rebounder.

Outlook: The Nighthawks should take home a trophy from their 12th state tournament.

Sunnyside Christian Knights

Record: 21-2

Coach: Al Smeenk, 17th year, 309-103

First-round opponent: Tekoa-Oakesdale

Route to state: Defeated Lyle 59-25 at District 5 tournament.

Top players: Sara Den Hoed, 5-9, sr., guard, 13.8 ppg, 5 spg; Megan O’Brien, 5-5, soph., guard, 2.7 ppg; Kelly Harris, 5-9, sr., guard, 2.3 ppg; Heather Den Boer, 5-11, jr., forward, 11 ppg, 11 rpg; Colleen De Groot, 6-3, jr., center, 18 ppg, 10 rpg.

Fast fact: The Knights are making their eighth state appearance and have placed five times.

Outlook: Behind De Groot, Sunnyside Christian should bring home its fifth trophy.

Manson Trojans

Record: 16-8

Coach: Frank Phelps, third year, 54-20

First-round opponent: Napavine , Route to state: Defeated Pateros 49-35 at District 6 tournament.

Top players: Leslie Johnson, 6-0, jr., center, 15 ppg, 7 rpg; Megan Foster, 5-7, sr., forward, 5.8 ppg, 8 rpg; Janae England, 5-5, soph., guard, 5.8 ppg, 3.2 apg; Stefanie Morrison, 5-2, soph., guard, 3.6 ppg, 3 apg; Tara Zuluaga, 5-6, jr., forward, 3 ppg.

Fast fact: The young Trojans lost four seniors off last year’s fourth-place team, including Katie Davis, the all-time scoring leader for one tournament (138) and a single game (50).

Outlook: Manson will be hard-pressed to earn a trophy this year.

Napavine Tigers

Record: 21-3

Coach: John Foulkes, second year

First-round opponent: Manson

Route to state: Defeated Pe Ell 79-44 at District 4 tournament.

Top players: Carrie Spencer, 6-3, jr., forward, 24.5 ppg; Faith Winslow, 5-11, jr., guard, 7.2 ppg; Joey Russell, 5-10, jr., forward, 11.2 ppg; Marielle Voie, 5-9, sr., guard, 6.3 ppg; Amber Mummert, 5-4, soph., guard, 5.7 ppg.

Fast fact: Foulkes coached Ritzville to the 1997 state championship. Two of the team’s three losses are by one point, including a 57-56 three-overtime loss to Cascade Christian.

Outlook: Napavine went 1-2 in its first state appearance last year and should do the same in ‘99.

Ritzville Broncos

Record: 23-2

Coach: Howard Manke, second year, 52-2

First-round opponent: Shoreline Christian

Route to state: Defeated Selkirk 52-29 at District 7 tournament.

Top players: Megan Yerxa, 6-1, sr., center, 14.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg; Amy Fitch, 5-8, sr., point guard, 11.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.1 spg; Jamie Alspach, 5-11, sr., forward, 8.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg; Amber Sackmann, 5-7, soph., forward, 8.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.9 apg; Jaime Wellsandt, 5-5, sr., guard, 4.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.6 apg.

Fast fact: The Broncos’ two losses are to Wilbur-Creston, which Ritzville beat for last year’s state title.

Outlook: They should make the semis but will have a tough go with St. George’s. But look for Ritzville in the third-sixth game, perhaps with W-C.

Shoreline Christian Crusaders

Record: 18-5

Coach: Stan De Yager

First-round opponent: Ritzville

Route to state: Defeated Clallam Bay 50-42 at District 1-2-3 tournament.

Top players: Joy Vander Linden, 5-10, jr., wing, 10.6 ppg; Cara Prins, 5-9, senior, wing, 11.7 ppg; Tracy Paris, 5-6, sr., guard, 9.1 ppg; Megan Lamont, 5-6, sr., guard, 3.6 ppg; Abby Andreassen, 6-0, sr., center, 5.6 ppg.

Fast fact: The Crusaders were eighth in ‘97 and went 1-2 last year.

Outlook: Shoreline Christian is 6-24 in 12 state tournaments and is in line to last just two days.

1. TOP EIGHT Predicted placings 1, Waitsburg 2, St. George’s 3, Wilbur-Creston 4, Waterville 5, Sunnyside Christian 6, Ritzville 7, Tekoa-Oakesdale 8, Willapa Valley Janie McCauley

2. PLAYERS TO WATCH Best of the girls Carrie Spencer, 6-3, jr., forward, Napavine Wenchi Liu, 5-4, jr., point guard, St. George’s Anne Bickelhaupt, 6-3, sr., post, Waitsburg Alyssa Erickson, 5-8, sr., guard, Wilbur Creston Amy Fitch, 5-8, sr., point guard, Ritzville

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