Freeman Hoops Teams Plan To ‘Work Harder’

Sat., Nov. 27, 1999

By Mike Vlahovich mikev@spokesman.com (509) 927-2180

Freeman boys and girls basketball teams are cut from the same cloth. Neither has much size, but will make up for it by being scrappy.

“We’re short, but that could be to our advantage,” said second-year girls coach Scott Moore. “We’ll have to work harder than our opponents.”

Boys coach Mike Thacker echoed Moore, saying his team’s style will be a departure from the norm.

“We really are emphasizing getting in people’s faces,” he said. “We’re not as big and will use more full-court pressure than I’m used to. I think we’ve got the kids to do that.”

Thacker’s Scotties qualified for the State A tournament last year, but graduated a pair of 6-foot-5 players and the second leading scorer from that team.

“The size factor does bother me a bit,” he said. “But I feel better about this team’s shooting ability.”

Moore’s district finalists graduated three players.

“We’re pretty excited about this year,” he said. “We’ll build on the success we had.”

The teams open the season next Friday at Garfield-Palouse.

Boys plan carryover from state

Freeman may have gone 0-2 during last year’s State A tournament, but the carryover effect from the experience cannot be overstated.

“It helped immensely,” said Thacker. “That’s all the kids talk about - when we get back, not if.”

Six players return from that team, including senior Bill DePell and 6-foot-4 junior post Jeff Hyndman.

“Billy is my emotional leader and will pull the rest of the team with him,” said Thacker. “He’s an important kid to have.

Hyndman came up to varsity in the sixth game and had 22 and 19 points in the final two regular season contests.

The rest of the tentative starting lineup includes senior veterans Preston Carrell, Eric Hendrickson and junior point guard Tanner Townsend.

But the entire nine-player varsity roster figures to contribute.

“I don’t think with the style we want to play I can just play five or six,” said Thacker. “I’m going to have to use my bench.”

For the second straight year two teams qualify for state from the Northeast A League. It will alternate next season with the Caribou Trail League which gets just one berth.

Districts 7 and 6 are exploring ways of pooling the three annual berths into a regional format.

Veteran girls plan improvement

Although they didn’t have a winning season, Freeman’s girls did improve and finished strong.

Eight players return, six of whom played every game. They are eager and familiar with Moore’s system.

Like last year, when points were spread evenly among nine players, it will be a team without a star, but with a sound work ethic.

“This is the hardest working team I’ve had,” said Moore.

Returner Heather Wilkerson led the team in scoring at 8 points per game. Everyone else scored around 5 per contest.

Kristi Larson, Lindsey Floch, Krista Freeman, Leslie White and Laura Halverson were the other contributors.

“We have no go-to player. I really like that about our team,” said Moore. “There’s no one to key on and it’s an advantage to have points spread all the way through.”

What Moore also likes is that instead of Freeman adjusting to what other teams do, this year the girls will be able to establish their own style.

Key to further improvement will be to cut down on turnovers that plagued them last year.

“One of our goals is not to beat ourselves. “We really shot ourselves in the foot several games with turnovers,” said Moore.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Basketball rosters

Freeman boys

Last year’s record: 17-10 Returnees

Preston Carrell, sr. 6-0, G

Bill DePell, sr. 6-1, G

Eric Hendrickson, sr. 6-3, P

Jeff Taylor, sr. 5-9, G

Jeff Hyndman, jr. 6-4, P

Tanner Townsend, jr. 6-1, G Newcomers

Nate Brown, jr. 6-3, P

Jake Johnson, jr. 6-3, P

Todd Reed, soph. 5-8, G

Freeman girls

Last year’s record: 9-15 Returnees

Heather Wilkerson, sr. 5-9, W

Leslie White, sr. 5-5, G

Lindsey Floch, jr. 5-10 W

Kristi Larson, jr. 5-6, W

Krista Freeman, jr. 5-7, G

Laura Halverson, jr. 5-7, W

Heidi Tibbetts, jr. 5-2, G

Leslie Yunker, jr. 5-9, P Newcomers

Annie Morphy, jr. 5-5, G

Holly Rinaldi, fr. 5-4, G

Emily Hendrickson, fr. 5-7, W

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