Ferris Foursome ready to go separate ways

They don’t have a nickname, like the Four Musketeers or the Fantastic Four. While Nicole Barber, Amber Quann, Courtney Hatch and Liz Boyden don’t need a nickname, the Ferris High School seniors already enjoy a bond like those famous foursomes.

“I’ve been playing with this group of girls since my freshman year, and Amber since fourth grade YMCA basketball,” said Hatch, a guard. “It’s crazy to see how everyone’s grown, and it’s been cool to play with each other for so long.”

“I remember playing against them in AAU,” said Boyden, who plays in the post. “It seems like we’ve been in each other’s lives for a long time, not just high school. Once we all came together and played in high school, it seemed like we all clicked.”

As freshmen four years ago, the Ferris Foursome enjoyed their finest season.

“Freshman year was absolutely amazing,” said Quann, who plays guard. “Our coach, Mike Syron, our current athletic director, we loved him. We had a great team. We were really successful. I think we only lost one or two games that year. I think it set the tone for the rest of our high school years. We had so much fun together, we played well and it helped all four of us to keep wanting to play.”

“I think we were the No. 1 team JV-wise,” said point guard Barber. “I just remember the U-High game we played. We were down at halftime and … we came out and played our hearts out. I think we ended up losing, but how much we wanted to play and how we came together and came back in the game, that’s one of the greatest games I remember playing with them.”

Barber, who will attend BYU next year to study photography and fashion, has been the rock the Saxons have leaned upon this season.

“She’s just a bundle of energy,” said Ferris head coach Barry Olson. “Just looking at her, you wouldn’t think she would be such a fierce competitor, but she is.”

Quann, whose sister Alex is on the team, will finish as a three-year letter winner.

“The one thing I’ll say about Amber this year is she’s really stepped up,” Olson said. “If we aren’t playing well and we need a big bucket, she’s the one that’s stepped up to take the shot, or hit the free throws, or guard their best player. She’s taken on that leadership role to help us to rise to another level.”

Hatch hopes to continue her career at Linfield College in Oregon.

“We always work as hard as we can and be extremely encouraging to the younger girls,” said Hatch. “When someone’s not getting it or having trouble, we try to be very supportive and keep their heads up. This was a tough year for us because we have a lot of seniors and a lot of sophomores, so we’ve tried to fill that gap. We’ve had some injuries, so we’re just trying to keep everybody’s head up and keep everyone positive. That’s our main goal.”

Boyden will attend the University of Idaho on a soccer scholarship next season, but the memories of playing hoops with her three friends will always be with her.

“We just try to be role models, doing the little things on the court and off the court,” Boyden said. “We just try to set an example of what Ferris basketball is and hopefully they can continue that.”

Despite the fact the Saxons fell short of a playoff berth with a loss to Central Valley last Tuesday, the four are proud of what they’ve accomplished.

“I can’t describe going to high school at Ferris,” said Quann. “It has been absolutely awesome. I had options to go to other high schools, and I wouldn’t go anywhere else. It’s been a great place to go the last four years. Ferris is awesome. I wouldn’t go anywhere else in Spokane.”

“I love those girls,” said Barber. “I used to play AAU basketball with them. We played JV basketball together freshman year. I’ve really come to love those girls. They’re like sisters to me. We get along, and we agree in all that we do. We’ve had fun memories, and it’s those memories that make your high school career the greatest. It’s been really fun, an adventure, a journey, and I couldn’t have taken the journey with three greater girls than them.”