Prep basketball: Connell boys edge Highland

CONNELL, Wash. — Kennan Vanhollebeke’s putback with 1:30 to play proved the difference Thursday night as Connell downed Highland 38-37 in a non-league boys basketball game.

The Scotties (3-5), who scored only nine points in the second half and one in the fourth quarter, had multiple scoring opportunities after Vanhollebeke’s shot, but couldn’t convert.

Matt Hadley led the Eagles with 10 points while Carter Chase grabbed 11 rebounds and Vanhollebeke had nine.

The Scotties’ Tanner Christenson led all scorers with 16 points and also had seven rebounds.

HIGHLAND — Soderstrom 2, Wise 2, Stohr 1, Tanner Christenson 16, Uriostegui 8, Gee-Rivard 3, Gonzalez 5, Ruiz 0, Trepanier 0.

CONNELL — Matt Hadley 10, Fox 2, Lyle 2, Chase 6, C. Vanderbilt 4, Vanhollebeke 7, Hopkins 7, Huber 0, Holst, G. Vanderbilt 0, Williams 0.

Highland 10 18 8 1 — 37
Connell 7 14 11 6 — 38

Highlights: Christenson (H) 7 rebs.

GIRLS

CONNELL 61, HIGHLAND 20: At Connell, Wash., Kody Easterday had 16 points, Shelby English had 13 and the duo combined for 10 rebounds as as the Eagles downed Highland.

Tavi Wise led the Scotties with eight points.

HIGHLAND — Smith 2, Madrigal 0, Morales 2, Gomez 0, Preston 0, Angel 0, Rice 3, Perez 2, Newman 3, Wise 8, Ornelas 0.

CONNELL — Thompson 2, Stredwick, M. Hawkins 8, J. Hawkins, Kody Easterday 16, K. Booker 4, M. Booker 10, Boyd 3, Whitby 0, English 13, Schultz 5, Kroontje 0.

Highland   2 6 5 7 — 20
Connell      18 26 11 6 — 61

Highlights: Michelle Schultz (C) 7 rebs; Easterday (C) 5 rebs; 6 assists, 3 stls; Shelby English (C) 5 rbs, 4 assists, 4 stls.

Local report — CWU’s Davis shares GNAC honor

Sophomore forward sixth nationally in blocked shots||

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Central Washington’s Kevin Davis has been named the GNAC’s co-men’s basketball player of the week.

A 6-foot-9 sophomore from Federal Way and Tacoma Community College, Davis totaled 47 points, 30 rebounds, 11 blocked shots and eight steals as the Wildcats won two of three games, including a win over a Rollins College team from Winter Park, Fla. that was ranked 10th nationally.

His double-doubles against Dominican (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Alabama-Huntsville (21 points, 14 rebounds) were his fourth and fifth of the season, ranking Davis first in the GNAC and eighth in the nation.

He leads the conference in blocks (3.3 per game), rebounding (9.5) and field goal percentage (60.2).

Nationally, Davis ranks sixth in blocks and eighth in double-doubles.

Davis became the second CWU sophomore to earn player of the week honors, with Sunnyside Christian product Lance Den Boer being the first in 2005.

The other co-player of the week was Western Washington’s Zach Henefin.

PREP BASKETBALL

Huereca, Fiander pace White Swan

WHITE SWAN — Leandro Huereca and Lawrence Fiander combined for 47 points to power White Swan to a 60-47 non-league boys basketball victory Wednesday night.

Huereca finished with 24 points while Fiander totaled 23 points and seven assists as the Cougars ran their record to 4-0.

Matt Hadley led Connell with 21 points.

CONNELL — Huber 4, Holst 0, Matt Hadley 21, Fox 0, Lyle 0, Chase 8, Vanderbilt 4, Williams 0, Hollebeke 6, Hopkins 4.

WHITE SWAN — Leandro Huereca 24, K. Lewis 0, Lawrence Fiander 23, Zuniga 2, Price 2, N. Lewis 4, Hull 5, Phillips 0.

Connell 12 9 10 16 — 47

White Swan 16 16 16 12 — 60

Highlights: Fiander (WS) 7 assists; Tanner Hull (WS) 6 rebs; Santana Price (WS) 5 rebs.

SUNNYSIDE CHRISTIAN 46, WAITSBURG-PRESCOTT 36: At Sunnyside Christian, Trevor Wagenaar scored 19 points and Brandon Broersma had a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds as Knights improved to 5-4.

WAITSBURG-PRESCOTT — Eastman 0, D. Estes 2, Brown 6, Lanning 1, Zuger 2, Zack Bartlow 16, Wooderchak 9, E. Estes 0.

SUNNYSIDE CHRISTIAN — Trevor Wagenaar 19, Puterbaugh 0, Haak 5, Brouwer 5, Van Wingerden 0, Brandon Broersma 17.

Waitsburg/Prescott 3 6 13 14 — 36

Sunnyside Christian 12 10 14 10 — 46

Highlights: Jackson Haak (SC) 12 rebs; Broersma (SC) 14 rebs.

LYLE-WISHRAM 67, HOOD RIVER (ORE.) JV 25: At Hood River, Ricky Wolff and Gabe Montoya combined for 25 points as L-W improved to 5-3.

LYLE-WISHRAM — Mills 7, Mutch 0, Ricky Wolff 14, Titcomb 6, Luke 5, Stephens 0, Manzanedo 7, Von Ahn 8, Gabe Montoya 11, Carse 0.

HOOD RIVER JV — Romero 0, Jimenez 0, Mendiola 5, Dunn 0, R.J. Chavez 12, Wasar 0, Webber 5, Weekley 3.

Lyle-Wishram — 9 14 13 21 — 67

Hood River JV — 3 8 8 6 — 25

Highlights: Justin Mills (LW) 6 stls; Jonathan Von Ahn (LW) 8 rebs; Gabe Montoya (LW) 7 rebs.

GIRLS

WHITE SWAN 52, CONNELL 39: At White Swan, Amber Jones scored 19 points and Cayla Jones had 11 points and seven steals as the Cougars pulled away in the fourth quarter, improving to 4-1.

CONNELL — Thompson 1, Steedvick 0, Hawkins 9, Easterday 8, K. Booker 1, Boyd 0, Whitby 2, Person 2, English 8, M. Booker 2, Schulty 6, Kroontye 0.

WHITE SWAN — Hawk 7, Swan 0, Scabbyrobe 6, Spencer 0, Van Pelt 0, Cayla Jones 11, Sutterlict 1, Sheppard 4, Amber Jones 19, Botkins 4.

Connell 10 6 13 10 — 39

White Swan 8 11 14 19 — 52

Highlights: C. Jones (WS) 7 stls; Evelyn Hawk (WS) 5 assists; Almarae Swan (SW) 6 stls; Emily Botkins (WS) 8 rebs.

SUNNYSIDE CHRISTIAN 51, WAITSBURG-PRESCOTT 34: At Sunnyside Christian, Stormee Van Belle had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead the unbeaten Knights (7-0).

WAITSBURG-PRESCOTT — Potter 6, Hofer 0, Moss 5, Goenan 0, Huxoll 0, Harris 7, Hulce 6, Cook 0, Doepkler 2, Baker 8.

SUNNYSIDE CHRISTIAN — Haak 4, Williams 1, De Groot 0, Katie Long 10, den Hoed 2, Brouwer 2, Broersma 4, Stormee Van Belle 23, Wavrin 5.

Waitsburg-Prescott 2 8 11 13 — 34

Sunnyside Christian 15 11 9 16 — 51

Highlights: Van Belle (SC) 10 rebs.

12/22/11 Rec Notes — Pirates win hoop title

YAKIMA, Wash. — The seventh-grade Pirate girls basketball team won their age bracket in last week’s Bring Your Game Tournament in Yakima.

The Pirates went 3-0 in pool play and beat Pasco 42-28 in the championship game.

Team members are Bayleigh Harris, Kianna Zimmer, Izmani Moctezuma, Jessica Perea, Sarah Stiles, Imani Brown, Esperanza Garcia, Grace Simbajon, Anacelli Ramos and Stella Bueno. The team is coached by Joe Harris and assisted by Shag Williams.

Sagebrush boys win tourney

Sagebrush Hoops Blue took first place in the fourth-grade boys division of the ninth annual Bring Your Game basketball tournament held this past weekend in Yakima.

Sagebrush went 4-0 in the tournament, defeating the Tar Heels from Yakima 32-27 in the championship game.

Team members included Hugo Carmona, Cooper DeWitt, James Dorsett, Lincoln Holland-Boone, Kael Norris, Treyton Parrish, Isaac Perez, Matthew Ramirez, and Conner Turner. Brad DeWitt is the head coach and Todd Dorsett is the assistant.

12/22/11 Valley Sports Weekly

Gymnastics

Gymnastics Plus

HO HO CLASSIC

Results, Dec. 10

Level 4 — Ch. 6-8: 1, Jordyn Busey 33.100 (8.950 Vault, 8.500 Bars, 7.900 Beam, 7.750 Floor); 2, Sierra Newell 32.025 (8.700, 8.550, 8.225, 6.550); 3, Mackenzie Pelson 31.800 (8.550, 7.850, 7.350, 8.050). Ch. 9-11: 1, Grace Gerardi 35.775 (8.850, 8.900, 8.925, 9.100); 2, Summer Welch 32.975 (9.025, 8.300, 7.600, 8.050); 3, Meghan Ramsey 32.475 (9.050, 7.900, 7.850, 7.675).

Level 5 — Ch. 7-9: 1, Baylie Brown 35.675 (8.650 Vault, 9.075 Bars, 9.150 Beam, 8.800 Floor); 2, Teryn May 32.625 (8.500, 8.100, 7.900, 8.125); 3, Olivia Martin 31.600 (8.300, 8.350, 7.000, 7.950). Ch. 10&O: 1, Angeles Marin 33.700 (8.600, 7.500, 8.900, 8.700); 2, Kelsea Nunes 33.300 (8.350, 8.450, 8.150, 8.350); 3, Jordyn Tuning 32.500 (7.900, 8.200, 8.200, 8.200).

Level 6 — Ch. 7&O: 1, Addison Scott 33.900 (8.675 Vault, 8.425 Bars, 8.400 Beam, 8.400 Floor); 2, Abigail Palomarez 33.150 (8.800, 7.500, 9.100, 7.750); 3, Talia Kalina 33.025 (8.750, 7.525, 8.450, 8.300).

Level 7 — Ch. 7&O: 1, Julissa Peart 35.800 (8.900 Vault, 9.575 Bars, 8.425 Beam, 8.900 Floor); 2, Katia Thompson 34.650 (9.000, 7.550, 9.325, 8.775).

Level 9 — Jr. 8&O: 1, Kelsy Hyvonen 34.200 (8.925 Vault, 8.400 Bars, 7.850 Beam, 9.025 Floor); 2, Tamara Allard 33.300 (7.900, 8.900, 8.675, 7.825).

Shooting

Yakima Valley Rifle League

STANDINGS

Toppenish 2-0, Selah 2-0, Yakima 1-1, Ellensburg 1-1, Tieton 0-2, Wapato 0-2.

RESULTS, DEC. 13

ELLENSBURG 2385, TIETON 2321

Tieton (2321)

Name Pr. Sit. Kn. Std. Std. Tot.

JL Thompson 99 94 99 97 97 486

Tara Mize 100 98 98 95 92 483

Mike Clark 100 95 92 86 90 463

Robin Simmons 100 99 98 85 86 468

Gary Conn 90 78 71 68 73 380

Lynn Bonsen 98 89 82 78 74 421

Ellensburg (2244+91=2385)

Hal Mason 100 94 96 92 93 475

Mel Goudge 100 95 99 90 89 473

Ed Taasevigen 98 91 79 78 87 433

Marilyn Mason 100 98 97 90 84 469

Bill Wragge 91 89 94 78 82 434

Grant Maskal 95 89 92 83 84 443

Scott Mattson 75 60 71 28 46 280

TOPPENISH 2319, YAKIMA 2305

Toppenish (2209+110=2319)

Name Pr. Sit. Kn. Std. Std. Tot.

Larry Garcia 99 95 96 90 91 471

Bud LeDuc 100 100 90 94 89 473

Troy Brown 89 87 92 89 94 451

Charles Palmer 73 71 79 70 75 368

John Camren 77 80 82 89 75 403

Lezlie Camren 80 82 84 82 83 411

Larry Martin 52 57 53 61 70 293

Yakima (2305)

Nate Humbard 100 98 100 94 96 488

Ed Humbard 100 100 97 91 92 480

Jim Humbard 99 98 95 85 91 468

Bob Rains 100 99 92 85 91 468

Nancy Miller 89 87 85 85 56 402

AJ Smith 100 93 93 60 52 398

Tim Thompson 95 90 93 59 67 404

Kobah Kastella 99 98 94 86 87 464

SELAH 2350, WAPATO 2274

Selah (2350)

Name Pr. Sit. Kn. Std. Std. Tot.

David Pittman 99 99 99 96 93 486

Jim Bolm 100 97 97 89 93 476

Jason Galloway 100 96 96 92 88 472

Leonard Pittman 98 98 94 83 78 451

Jerry Farnsworth 98 95 97 89 86 465

Jacob Bolm 97 95 85 88 78 444

Samantha Pittman 92 93 91 63 69 408

Jason Sterbenz 93 93 81 59 76 402

Wapato (2148+126=2274)

Jack Polumsky 86 88 91 86 84 435

Greg Cuillier 98 99 98 79 92 466

Mike Cuillier 97 98 97 86 95 473

Tim Ryan 82 78 77 68 69 374

Dummy 400

Pool

Upper Valley

MEN’S LEAGUE

Standings, Dec. 18

Wednesday North: Little Dutch 1 33, Old Town Pump 3 29, T&T Lounge 1 27, Ranch 1 22, West Valley 1 22, Ranch 2 20.

Wednesday South: Old Town Pump 1 31, Susie’s 2 27, Ranch 3 22, West Valley 2 20, Little Dutch 2 12, Old Town Pump 2 7.

Thursday North: Eagles 43, Sports Center 26, Curly’s 1 25, Ranch 4 24, Old Town Pump 4 19, West Valley 4 16.

Thursday South: Ranch 5 34, T&T Lounge 2 28, Little Dutch 4 27, Susie’s 3 22, Brews n Cues 2 21, West Valley 5 21.

Thursday West: Little Dutch 3 34, Ranch 6 34, West Valley 3 22, Susie’s 1 21, Curly’s 2 19, James Gang 9, Brews n Cues 1 9, Ranch 7 5.

8-Ball on Break: Phil Radke, Bob Masters, Nate Carlson, Mel Patnode.

Table Runs: George Weiss, Myron Hannigan, Benjie Grow, Eric Wagner, Rich Fearr, Darrell Sampson, Ramon Gutierrez, Dean Klump, Pat Guzman, Matt Palmer.

Volleyball

Yakima Parks and Recreation

CO-REC FALL LEAGUE

Final Standings

A Division: Consensual Sets 20-4, Glory Days 16-8, Dig This 15-9, Talbott, Simpson & Davis 12-12, Team Tiger Balm 6-18, Wood’s Warriors 3-21.

B Division: Kline Construction 19-5, Apathy Rules 15-9, Central WA Insurance 14-10, Victor’s Raiders 13-11, Jack Hammer 9-15, Serve It Up 8-16.

C Division: Unprotected Sets 18-6, Costco 18-6, 12 Bad Knees 14-10, Weebles 13-11, Spike It 6-18, Don’t Spike Me Bro! 3-21.

D Division: OC Spikers 18-6, T-Baggers 18-6, Comic Relief 17-7, Peppermint Spikers 15-9, Iguanas 8-16, Eliminators 5-19.

E Division: Atrevido 20-4, Mustangs 18-6, Momarcas 10-14, All That & A Bag Of Nuts 0-24.

12/22/11 Bulletin Board

BASKETBALL: The Yakima Valley Sports Authority and AAU is hosting three events in January. The 14th annual Yakima Valley Invitational is Jan. 6-8 for boys and girls in grades 2-8. Registration deadline is Dec. 30. The 21st annual Martin Luther King Tournament is Jan. 14-16 for boys and girls in grades 2-8. Registration deadline is Jan. 6. The Three Rivers Winter League will be Jan. 21-March 3 for boys and girls in grades 1-8. Registration deadline is Jan. 6. Entry forms are online at www.ieaau.org or by calling the AAU office at 509-453-2696.

• The Sunnyside Community Center will be hosting a two-day basketball camp Dec. 28-29 from 10 a.m.-noon for kids ages 6-12. There is a $10 registration fee. You can register at the Community Center or contact them at 509-837-2205.

SOFTBALL: Yakima Valley Little League will be starting a softball program for girls ages 5-10 in the Yakima, West Valley, Wapato and the Zillah school districts. Registrations will be the first week of February at Kimmel Athletic. Go online at www.eteamz.com/yakimavalleylittleleague/ for more information.

12/22/11 Bowling

Minda Lanes

Frontier: Donny Cawthron 757 (254, 224, 279), Elray Compo 692 (248, 228, 216), Shannon Wallahee 684 (206, 286), James Pitt 668 (214, 233, 221), Mel French 643 (205, 235, 203), Tanner Schannerman 641 (220, 236), John Gilmore 637 (226, 216). A-Compo 225. L-A 2151?2-1201?2.

Sunsational: Ally Delozier 569 (202), Brandon Spencer 360, Jony Dykes 360, JD Dufault 341. A-Dykes 129, Delozier 166. L-T3 24-8.

Hit & Miss: Gwen Seward 493, Rose Woody 459, Connie Blanchard 456. A-Seward 169. L-PCC 37-19.

Guys & Dolls — Men: Randy Raney 644 (205, 214, 225), Kevin Bishop 594 (223, 224), Rodney Bauenhauer 555. Women: Alison Nolz 522, Eva Reider 478, Pam Betts 434. A-Vigil 202, Reider 166. L-WDD, S&SR 31-25.

Humana Insurance: Shawna Barnes 527, Darlene Webb 521, Sherry Eddy 510, Debbie Pinqet 460, Janice Haskel 430. A-Alvarado 172, Eddy 171. L-H2I, SG, SOB 5-3.

Thursday Adult Jr/Sr: Wayne Morse 691 (210, 223, 258), Dave Donahue 638 (234, 212), Roy Warren 543 (206). A-Hipner 198. L-3-3 38-18.

Tuesday Adult Jr/Sr: Gene Hipner 696 (217, 268, 211), Don Markham 611 (245), Roy Warren 602 (243). A-Hipner 201. L-OPT 421?2-171?2.

Latecomers: Bobbi Huerd 526, Kate Phillips 454, Dorothy Brink 448. A-Huerd 170. L-DH 25-11.

Hit & Miss: Gwen Seward 537, Marlene Riggen 459, Janice Haskell 451.

Guys & Dolls — Men: Sam Vigil 609 (201, 227), Randy Raney 581 (220, 206), Don Surgeon 537. Women: Alison Nolz 479, Pam Betts 474, Peggy Blackledge 451.

Humana Insurance: Debbie Pinget 469, Twyla Ostrander 466, Kay Shemanski 448, Margaret Beddoe 437, Margie Woolsey 428.

Thursday Adult Jr/Sr: Don Markham 608 (203, 256), Ralph Wade 588 (213), Gene Hipner 571 (202).

Tuesday Tillicum: Nona Cook 777 (226, 236), Jerry Hill 757 (204), Rebecca Trujillo 659. A-Olney 189, Cook 196. L-T1 42-18.

Latecomers: Bobbi Huerd 530 (202), Bonnie 495, Sally Berreth 470.

Frontier: James Pitt 702 (253, 214, 235), Elray Compo 696 (266, 235), Ray Stubnet 679 (235, 222, 222), Jody Bouchey 661 (236, 202, 222), Buzz Bussard 661 (211, 233, 217), Jeff Moser 661 (23, 224, 201), Gabe Rodriguez 649 (223, 219, 207).

Sunsational: Ally Delozier 544, Jony Dykes 360, Hunter Delozier 350, Brandon Spencer 374, JD Dufault 356.

Nob Hill Bowling Center

Nob Hill Majors: Don Bautch 901 (216, 205, 234, 246), Spike Adams 878 (200, 231, 234, 213), Chris Bailey 855 (211, 211, 208, 225). A-Bautch 216. L-MT 65.

Monday Seniors — Men: Steve Pfau 771 (290, 246, 235), Rich Siekawitch 643 (237, 223), Bob Hartenstein 576 (203). Women: Judy Buchanan 530, Mary Walton 494, Kathy Vetsch 494. A-Pfau 207, Fernandes 169. L-GT 38.

Goodtime Rollers — Men: Curt Mauch 631 (210, 207, 214), Peter Woods 607 (255), Larry Rathjon 596. Women: Lisa Pietkauskis 501, Jakie Klutz 500, Kini Mauch 445, Ronda Qumby 445. L-JL, CC&D 32-24.

Ladies Star Classic: Sally Bailey 592 (228), Willette Cheaton 563 (215), Lisa Johns 552 (215). A-Johns 181. L-HDF 127-97.

BAASMD — Men: Dan Gilcher 713 (232, 252, 229), Pat Lincoln 698 (234, 216, 248), Rich Benfiet 675 (243, 237). Women: Janice Chouinard 646 (245, 205), Tysha Gunderson 547, Diana Boen 536. A-Gilcher 215, Chouinard 223. L-SLS 401?2-151?2.

Junior Stars — Men: Jon Purdy 584 (238, 201), Zac Collins 583 (228), Jordan Kent 539 (233). Women: Mandy Cramer 529 (222), Sarah Cawthron 523 (218), Emily Imbery 471. A-Purdy 206, Cramer 169. L-FSU 301?2-51?2.

Thursday Seniors — Men: George Grissom 636 (237, 246), Rich Siekawitch 619 (220, 205), Dick Vetsch 609 (211, 202). Women: Kathy Vetsch 544, Donna Siekawitch 502, Judy Grissom 491. A-Pfau 203, Vetsch 167. L-4M 37.

Thursday Nite Swingers — Men: John Nelson 606 (212, 211), Dave Smith 534, Malcolm Beard 490. Women: Kathy Darby 419, Terry Sunderland 407, Mary Fry 357. A-Nelson 198, Darby 155. L-BB 19-13.

Commercial: Jody Bouchey 718 (279, 248), Gerald Lammi 710 (247, 243, 211), Randy Buckalew 673 (215, 234, 247). A-Conway 230. L-ST, KM 35-21.

Monday Nite Mix or Match — Men: Rick Patino 645 (207, 225, 213), Doug Evans 615 (214, 234), Scott Kessinger 595 (201, 202). Women: Melissa Kessinger 546 (211), Elizabeth Evans 450, Terria Luttrel 439. A-Patino, Evans 200, Hartsfield 190. L-SP 431?2-121?2.

Nob Hill Trio: Sally Berneth 529 (209), Sandy Parker 502 (208), Roxanne Stevens 480. A-Parker 168.

NoWoTo: Leisa Pitner 521 (245), Marie Westbrook 511, Evelyne Searl 491. A-Pitner 185. L-DA 39-21.

Motor: George May 711 (268, 216, 227), Randy Harper 655 (207, 233, 215), Larry Cramer 647 (234, 225). A-Burton 216. L-JH 203-133.

HONOR ROLL

Men

Weekly High Series

Steve Pfau, Nob Hill 771

Donny Cawthron, Minda 757

Jody Bouchey, Nob Hill 718

Dan Gilcher, Nob Hill 713

George May, Nob Hill 711

Gerald Lammi, Nob Hill 710

Pat Lincoln, Nob Hill 698

Gene Hipner, Minda 696

Elray Compo, Minda 692

Wayne Morse, Minda 691

Weekly High Game

Steve Pfau, Nob Hill 290

Donny Cawthron, Minda 279

Jody Bouchey, Nob Hill 279

Gene Hipner, Minda 268

George May, Nob Hill 268

Wayne Morse, Minda 258

Peter Woods, Nob Hill 255

Dan Gilcher, Nob Hill 252

Elray Compo, Minda 248

Pat Lincoln, Nob Hill 248

Women

Weekly High Series

Shannon Wallahee, Minda 684

Janice Chouinard, Nob Hill 646

Sally Bailey, Nob Hill 592

Willette Cheaton, Nob Hill 563

Lisa Johns, Nob Hill 552

Tysha Gunderson, Nob Hill 547

Melissa Kessinger, Nob Hill 546

Kathy Vetsch, Nob Hill 544

Diana Boen, Nob Hill 536

Judy Buchanan, Nob Hill 530

Weekly High Game

Shannon Wallahee, Minda 286

Janice Chouinard, Nob Hill 245

Leisa Pitner, Nob Hill 245

Nona Cook, Minda 236

Sally Bailey, Nob Hill 228

Mandy Cramer, Nob Hill 222

Sarah Cawthron, Nob Hill 218

Willette Cheaton, Nob Hill 215

Lisa Johns, Nob Hill 215

Melissa Kessinger, Nob Hill 211

Seasons greetings to, and from, Don James

Just got off the phone with Don James, who will always be one of my favorite people.
I called the former Washington football coach for a story I’m working on, and also to catch up on things.
Don came to Washington in December, 1974, selected by Joe Kearney to succeed Jim Owens in what might have been the best hire in school history.
The following spring he came to the Centralia-Chehalis area for a speaking engagement, and was paired with a then-23-year-old reporter from The Daily Chronicle for an afternoon round of golf.
As with most things Don endeavored in, he was extremely good on the links. I don’t recall what he shot the day we played at Chehalis, but many years later I watched him putt out on the 18th hole at McCormick Woods near Bremerton and asked him how he did.
“Oh, I scraped it around,” he said.
“But what did you shoot?” I asked.
“Seventy four,” he said.
Now approaching his 79th birthday, James still plays near his winter home at Palm Desert, Calif.
“I played Monday,” he said. “Played terrible, but it happens that way sometimes.”
He walks, lifts weights and feels better after having a defibrillator installed last summer.
As we all do, Don sometimes struggles with life passages such as the recent death of Ron Holmes, a standout defensive lineman in the early 1980s. Others, though, are more fun.
“I went up to Ronnie’s funeral,” he said, “and then I went back to Kent State (where he was head coach before coming to Washington) for a 40th reunion of our football team that won the Mid-American Conference championship.
“I can’t believe it’s been 40 years since we did that. Some of the players on that team are retired now.”
Wednesday, Don was reading a book when the phone rang.
“I’ve had my workout for the day,” he said. “Just got back from Costco.”
Soon his three children — son Jeff and daughters Jill and Jeni, and their families — will converge on Don and Carol James’ household for the holidays. Don and Carol have 10 granchildren — some of them married, he said — but no great-grandkids yet.
Among the reasons I maintain a huge amount of respect for Don was that during the time I covered Washington football for the Chronicle, Daily Olympian and Bremerton Sun, he treated me with the same amount of respect and courtesy he gave to reporters from the Seattle Times or P-I.
Not once did Don fail to return one of my phone calls.
And once you had his trust, you had a friend who was as interested in your away-from-work life as you were in his.
In 1987 I had the second of two major surgeries on my feet and ankles. Both had been badly deformed by a congenital condition known as CMT syndrome, and walking long distances was becoming increasingly difficult until I learned of a remarkable surgeon named Dr. Sig Hansen, who was affiliated with the UW.
Dr. Hansen rebuilt my left foot in 1985 and the right one two years later. While not normal by any means, they’re immeasurably improved.
After the second operation, I called Don to ask about a local player he’d signed. We addressed that issue, after which he asked how my surgery had gone.
I said it had gone well, and jokingly added that since I had four years of NCAA athletic eligibility left I was considering walking onto his program as a wide receiver.
Several seconds of silence elapsed.
Then Don, sounding both amused and a bit concerned, said, “I think you’d better stick with those golf clubs.”

FROM THE QUOTE FILE
“Tell you what, Roger, put in there somewhere that I love Don but I hate purple.”
— Jim Walden, while coaching at Iowa State, on becoming concerned that his glowing praise of Don James for a story I was working on might be misunderstood by his friends at Washington State.

Christmas gift for bird watchers?

YAKIMA, Wash. — Well, it’s only a Christmas gift if you’re one of those birders with a “life list,” a “state list” or a “year list” and will gladly travel hours for a chance at augmenting one or all of those lists with a glimpse at a rare bird.

Because there’s one of up in Okanogan County. Yes, a five-hour drive away. But, trust me, there will be people in this part of the state — and even further — who will make the trip for a chance to see a Ross’s gull (Rhodostethia rosea).

This gull is what birders call a vagrant — an interloper from another area that’s somehow lost its way or decided for whatever reason to go against its own history and, perhaps, a migration pattern developed over numerous generations. It’s an East Siberian arctic species that had only been documented once before in this state — in 1994 near McNary Dam. (And I’m betting a whole slew of local birding enthusiasts were down at McNary checking it out those 17 years ago.

The Ross’s gull in Okanogan County has been spotted on Palmer Lake, and has been verified by someone who ought to know — a state Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist named Jeff Heinlen. Heinlen photographed the bird resting on and flying over the lake on Dec. 15 and 16, and his sighting was confirmed by other wildlife biologists again on Monday.

Biologists believe the bird may remain in the area for a few weeks, based on behavior of other non-arctic sightings of Ross’s gulls. That’s one reason Heinlen, knowing the birding-community buzz this news represents, calls the gull’s presence “like a holiday present for bird watchers.”

For the record, I’m not one of them. But both my parents were, and this is the sort of thing that would have had them on the road on their way to Palmer Lake, which — for the sake of others who will do the same  — is about 15 miles northwest of Tonasket, six miles south of the Canadian border. There’s a BLM day-use site at which to park (Split Rock) at the south end of the lake and a DNR campground on the east shore. (And, yes, there are restrooms at both parking areas.)

There’s a photograph of the bird on the WDFW’s Facebook site.

– Scott Sandsberry

12/20/11 East Valley-Grandview girls photo gallery

 

Here is a photo gallery from Tuesday’s East Valley at Grandview CWAC girls basketball game.

Acing a test

Balanced East Valley scores key CWAC road win||

GRANDVIEW, Wash. — As they pass each of their early tests in the CWAC season, East Valley’s unbeaten girls have shown they know how to come up with all kinds of answers.

Tuesday night in the vulnerable position of a tough road game, the Red Devils had the best answer of all — balance.

Six-foot post Mikaela Zimmer put together 15 points and nine rebounds in the lane and her teammates pitched in six 3-pointers as East Valley turned back up-and-coming Grandview 65-50 in conference play.

Blend in Yasi Mohsenian’s stellar floor game — 19 points and nine assists — and the Red Devils pushed their records to 5-0 atop the CWAC and 6-0 overall.

East Valley pounced early, jumping to a 20-10 lead in the first quarter and a 36-22 advantage at halftime.

Zimmer controlled the interior, connecting on 7 of 10 shots, and Mohsenian and Tassia Merkle hit two 3-pointers apiece. Merkle gave EV a third double-digit scorer with 10 points, and Jamie Hodgson contributed nine points and seven rebounds.

Marissa Caballero led Grandview (3-2, 5-2) with 14 points and Breanna Lopez hit four 3-pointers for all 12 of her points. Payton Parrish added eight points, seven rebounds and four assists.

East Valley, ranked third in the Tacoma News Tribune’s 2A girls state poll this week, will host Sunnyside in a non-league game next Wednesday and then play a conference game the next day at Ephrata.

Grandview resumes CWAC play Dec. 29 with a tough road game at Toppenish.

 

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