WSU’s Bemis has to bow out
The most valuable player on Washington State’s team is retiring midseason.
Effective immediately Brynn Bemis is turning in her uniform.
Bemis, a fifth-year senior, was MVP for the WSU soccer team a year ago when she wrapped up her career. The only MVP thing about her basketball career, which officially consisted of 11 games, is her personality.
“First of all she’s an amazing athlete, playing two sports at WSU, and she’s an incredibly high academic achiever,” Cougars coach June Daugherty said. “She came to practice every day ready to give 100 percent. She was very focused. She picked up things very well.”
The trouble is, she couldn’t wear a helmet.
“Last year I had problems with concussions,” the Coeur d’Alene native and Lake City High graduate said. “I had one more concussion about a month ago. I’m basically medically disqualified. It was really only my second one, but the first one I had really bad problems with it.”
She was hurt in the one game she played last year and this season it happened in the second exhibition game.
Daugherty’s description of Bemis’ contributions sounded like those of an assistant coach on the floor, so WSU is losing more than a player.
“I think I’m going to stay away,” Bemis said. “I did that all last year. I was at practice and games. It’s just too emotionally hard for me.”
Bemis missed a portion of her junior soccer season with a knee injury and her sophomore basketball season was derailed by a dislocated ankle.
“It works out if I’m healthy,” she said with a laugh.
After getting her political science degree last spring, she’s now focusing on a degree in criminal justice.
“The original plan was to go to law school, but I don’t want to go right off the bat,” she said. “I want to go into the workforce first, if I can, and get some experience.”
As her life changes direction, Bemis is not shy about the direction of the basketball team.
“I’m very impressed with the new coaching staff and the players they brought in,” she said. “I think they’re headed for a national championship if it all goes right.”
Local watch
Senior guard Briann January (Lewis and Clark) needs 11 more assists to become Arizona State’s all-time leader. The Sun Devils lead the Pac-10 and are third in the country at 18.7 assists per game. January leads the league in assists (5.5) and steals (3.3). The national leader in assists is Shalee Lehning of Kansas State (8.8). … A week after notching her first double-double, New Mexico senior Angela Hartill (Riverside) matched her career high with 20 points and then totaled 12 points and nine rebounds against New Mexico State for the Lobos (9-1). Against the Aggies, Lobos freshman Nikki Nelson (Chewelah) matched her career-high 10 points in just 11 minutes. … Saint Martin’s sophomore Dara Zack (University) had two double-doubles in three games in Hawaii and in the third game (she missed a double-double by one rebound) hit a 3-pointer with 3 seconds left in regulation in a game the Saints (7-2) won in overtime. She leads the team in scoring (13.9), rebounding (10.7) and steals (20). Sophomore teammate Roni Jo Mielke (Sprague-Harrington) leads in assists (32) and is averaging 7.9 points. … Junior Ashlee Michelson (North Central-CCS) is leading Eastern Oregon (6-3) in scoring (14.8) and rebounding (5.3) and living at the foul line (52 for 59), shooting 88 percent. Junior Salena Leavitt (Central Valley) is averaging 10.1 points. The Mountaineers play at Eastern Washington (4-8) on Tuesday.
On tap
All eyes will be focused on No. 8 Tennessee’s visit to Gonzaga on Tuesday, but before that there is a good game on tap. No. 22 Kansas State (10-0) is at Washington State (7-3) at 1 p.m. Sunday. The seven non-conference wins are the most for the Cougars since winning nine in 1995. Senior Katie Appleton’s 138 3-pointers are five shy of tying Joanna Smith atop the WSU career list. … Idaho (3-7) is at Portland (5-6) Sunday.