Stability gives Mavericks a leg up

YAKIMA, Wash. — Stability is not a word commonly uttered in the world of semi-pro sports.

Players come and go, coaches as well, with great frequency, wiping rosters clean nearly every season.

That’s what makes this year’s version of the Yakima Mavericks somewhat remarkable.

The football team begins its season against Tacoma at 6 p.m. tonight at Marquette Stadium with a roster that features virtually every offensive skill position player and its key defensive players back from a team that overcame a slow start to finish 7-3 and make the playoffs.

“I think we’ll be pretty good this year,” Mavericks general manager Nathan Soptich said. “We have every key member from last year’s team back.”

Coach Steve Davis said much of the stability has to do with Yakima’s reliance on local players and the cohesion they’ve built over the years.

“It’s pretty unusual,” he said of the veteran-ladden squad. “But we’re like a family. These guys want to keep playing together.”

A lack of stability hurt Yakima out of the gate last season, with Davis making a quarterback change after an 0-2 start, going back to John Lobbestael, which triggered a turnaround that saw the Mavericks win seven of their final eight games before an overtime loss in the first round of the playoffs.

With Lobbestael back at the helm this season, the Mavericks are confident they can pick up right where it left off last season.

“I think the offense will score a lot of points,” Soptich said, adding that Lobbestael has really assumed a strong leadership role.

He’ll have plenty of familiar targets to throw to, starting with Ryan Wright and Alex Mahre.

“Any time you have those (two) guys to throw to, you’re in good shape,” Davis said.

The offensive line is young but has good depth, with newcomer Adam Peters from Sunnyside, making an immediate impression. The only significant change is at running back, where converted linebacker Kenny Petterson takes over as the starter.

“He’s a tough kid,” Davis said. “He won’t dazzle you with speed, but he’ll be tough to bring down.”

While the offense seems ready to roll, Yakima’s experience could have an even bigger impact with the defense.

Anchoring that side are defensive backs Jon Devolve (8th year with team) and Jeremy Frank (4th), linebackers Jesse Cardenas (8th) and B.J. Quinn (8th), and lineman Mick Gause (4th).

Complementing that experience is an influx of new players, including defensive end Darius Benitez from Davis, linebacker Alex Couette from Eisenhower, and cornerback Quincy Davis from Selah.

“The defense has those grizzly veterans and we have some young kids to mix in,” Davis said, adding that the teams’ veterans have set a standard for the younger players to follow.

“Any time you play semi-pro, if you don’t put in the time, you won’t be that good,” Davis said. “These guys work hard. In two months, we’ve had maybe two bad practices.

“They want to win and they want to put in the time.”

NOTES: The Mavericks have lowered ticket prices this season to $5 for everyone age 12 and older, with those 11 and under getting in for free. … All home games will be played at Marquette Stadium, at 5400 W. Chestnut Ave. … Yakima will again play in the Pacific Football League. Yakima has just three road games this season.

Goldendale’s Wanderscheid building on a successful freshman season

YAKIMA, Wash. — Sophomore slump?

Not a chance.

A sophomore surge is more like it.

On the heels of her stellar freshman campaign at Goldendale High School, Bree Wanderscheid continues to elevate her golf game as she seeks to finish what she came oh-so-close to accomplishing last spring — win a state title.

“It’s kind of all happened so fast,” said Wanderscheid, who called her runner-up finish in the Class 1A state tournament last year a pivotal moment in her young career.

“That boosted my confidence so that I know I can play with all these upperclassmen at state,” she continued. “That’s motivated me. I want to win state this year so I know I have to keep practicing.”

All that work has paid off so far with Wanderscheid turning in one strong round after another, including a remarkable 58 in the Othello Invitational. Although that score is somewhat misleading because, Wanderscheid said, the tee boxes were moved up about 40 yards, it’s still indicative of her precise shot-making abilities as the round featured just three pars and 15 birdies, including the entire back nine.

“I don’t really think about it,” she said of her game. “I just go out and play and hope I do good.

 “I guess I’m doing better than I expected.”

And not just in the high school ranks.

Last weekend, Wanderscheid won the Central Washington Junior Open (see inset), and in February, she took second at the Portland Junior Open, which features some of Oregon’s best prep players.

Last summer, she won her age division in the Washington State Junior Golf district tournament, and finished 13th in the U.S. Girls Junior Amateur qualifying tournament.

“It seems like my entire game has changed a lot,” she said. “I’ve just started putting better. I’ve started chipping better. I’ve worked on different kinds of shots so that I’m ready for anything in a tournament.”

While her entire game has improved, Wanderscheid has been able to pinpoint a couple specific things that have spurred these improvements.

First of all, she’s enjoyed a growth spurt and is now about 5-foot-4.

More importantly, she’s made changes on the tee and is hitting the ball significantly farther than a year ago, her father Ken Wanderscheid said.

“She’s always had a natural golf swing, she just wasn’t long enough off the tee blocks,” he said. “She’s grown and worked on different drills, like swinging the club through the ball not just to the ball.

Now, Wanderscheid is driving the ball about 240 yards, as opposed to 210 last year, and she’s also added about 10 to 20 yards with her irons, Ken said.

That added length has made all the difference.

“Last year, the other girls were hitting 20 yards past me,” she said. “They hit wedges into greens and I had to hit a wood.

“Just hitting the ball farther has changed my game.”

“That’s kind of why she didn’t win state last year,” Ken said. “The girl who won was just hitting it farther. Bree was hitting 6 irons into greens and it’s hard to get it close (to the hole). Now, she’s hitting short irons.

“Now she can attack par 5s because she can get there in two.”

This recent progress is just latest phase in her development since she began playing at age 8, after the family wanted older brother Zach to find a safer activity that BMX racing.

“My brother was getting way too fast and jumping too high and my mom worried he was going to break a bone,” she said. “He took up golf and when he got into it, my dad got me into it.

“I think I’ve always been a natural at it, but I didn’t practice a lot early on. When my brother got better, I started to practice more.”

Like her older brother, who went on to win back-to-back 1A state titles in 2009 and ’10 and now is at the University of Idaho, Bree has proven to be a quick study in the technical aspects of the game and backs those skills up with an intense desire to succeed.

“When she was eight, she went to a junior golf district, missed the cut and that kind of broke her heart,” Ken said. “That’s maybe even made her practice a little more because she doesn’t like to lose.”

And she hasn’t lost too often in the meantime — since age 9, Wanderscheid has not lost a district event in either junior golf or high school, winning eight times — and is showing every indication that many more victories are in her future as she continues to blend her natural abilities with a calm-under-pressure demeanor.

“The pressure part has never gotten to her,” Ken said. “It seems like the more pressure there is, the better she plays. She focusses more.

“Now, she’s building off that (state showing last spring). She’s ready to move to the next level.”

And she’s heading there quickly.

Yakima ABA team owners starting small

Their plan is simple — return pro basketball to Yakima.

Simple in idea, but not in execution.

A myriad of challenges must be overcome before Tim Spradlin and Mike Crenshaw can successfully achieve their goal, but, like their plan, they’re going to use a simple approach to get things started.

Spradlin, 32, and Crenshaw, 36, have formed the Yakima Vipers, a team that is scheduled to play in the Pacific Northwest Division of the American Basketball Association starting this fall.

“We’re doing everything we can this first year to make sure we’re here for a second year — that we’re here for the long haul,” said Spradlin, a Valley native who will handle the basketball operations and be head coach.

Rather than attempting a big splash and creating unnecessary financial burdens, the duo have set what they view as more attainable standards.

“We have lower expectations (this first year),” said Crenshaw, who moved to Yakima two years ago from New York. “We want to build this. We don’t want to come in and try and fill the Sun Kings’ shoes immediately.”

First and foremost, they are utilizing an ABA rule that doesn’t require them to pay player salaries. Despite that decision, 10 players, all from the Yakima Valley, have committed to play for the team.

“We’re not paying the players the first year or two and they know that,” Crenshaw said. “Everyone is sacrificing at this time to build this. The players are all focussed on making this happen.”

Another cost savings will be to seek out a high school or college gym to play games, which they’ve yet to secure, rather than attempt to get into the far more expensive SunDome.

Those two decisions should keep their financial commitment below $25,000 for the first season, said Crenshaw, who is handling the business side of the franchise.

The pair also wants to make games affordable, targeting $5 ticket prices, although, nothing’s been decided on that front yet.

The Vipers will also stick to a previously agreed on 16-game schedule, eight home and eight away, as a way to contain costs, even though they found out later that teams must play at least 30 games to qualify for the playoffs.

Beyond the financial hurdles, the Vipers’ biggest challenge is clearly one of perception.

First, there is local skepticism in the wake of the most recent failures of the Yakima Reds soccer team and Yakima Valley Warriors indoor football team, and also the way things ended for the Sun Kings basketball team and now-defunct Continental Basketball Association.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people who were excited to have basketball back,” Spradlin said, “but I’ve also talked to fans who have their doubts and I understand that.”

More daunting, however, may be how the league they just joined is viewed.

The ABA has been notorious for failed teams and questionable ownership, and scheduled games not being played — or even getting a set schedule.

“I had people tell me to be careful with the ABA. I weighed the negatives and the positives and took a leap of faith,” said Spradlin, adding that they know they’ll face a far more critical eye than the division’s other new teams.

“We have higher standards than, say Lakewood, where it’s all new,” he continued. “The (basketball) fan here came to expect a quality of play. Our challenges are greater.”

For now, Spradlin and Crenshaw are taking each obstacle one at a time, with their next goal to show the community there is in fact a team and it’s preparing to play.

For that, they’re going to host a youth basketball camp Saturday afternoon, followed by an intrasquad game at OIC (see inset).

“Our main thing was the skepticism,” Crenshaw said. “We have to show that Yakima does have a team.”

A simple step that they hope will help build to their bigger goal.

Team sets intrasquad game||

Fans curious about the Yakima Vipers basketball team can get a first look at them Saturday when they play an intrasquad game at the Excel High School gym at OIC.

The game will start at 3 p.m., following a youth basketball clinic.

“We want to give fans a taste of what we are and that we’re here,” said co-owner Tim Spradlin, adding that the team also plans to have meet-the-player gatherings in the near future as well.

The camp, for boys and girls ages 8-14, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and conducted by Vipers players. Cost is $25. For more information on the clinic, contact Mike at 509-406-3616.

OIC is located just north of Fruitvale Blvd. and 9th Avenue.

Vipers at a Glance

Team: Yakima Vipers.

Owners: Tim Spradlin, Mike Crenshaw.

Team colors: Black, red and white.

Home venue: To be determined.

Ticket prices: To be determined.

League: American Basketball Association.

Proposed division: Pacific Northwest.

Teams: Yakima, Seattle Mountaineers, Washington Rampage (Lake Stevens), Lakewood Panthers, Olympia Rise, Kitsap Admirals (Bremerton), Calgary Crush, Alaska Quake (Anchorage), Alaska 49ers (Anchorage).

Schedule: Most in division, including Yakima, will play 16 games — 8 home, 8 away. Both Alaska teams will play at least 30 games in an attempt to qualify for ABA playoffs.

Season: Expected to start in early November.

Vipers contact: www.yakimavipers1@yahoo.com or www.yakimavipers@gmail.com.

League website: www.abalive.com.

Standish showing senior class at Gonzaga

Ellensburg grad reflects on her time at Gonzaga ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — Arriving at Gonzaga four years ago, Kayla Standish wondered if she was, in fact, up to this new basketball challenge.

As a stellar career with the Bulldogs winds down four years later, Standish looks back and laughs at her early worries.

“I knew it would be a huge transition,” she said. “That first summer was a lot harder than what I expected. But I developed great friendships right away and that really helped. That freshman class grew really close those first weeks.

“The seniors (this season) have been through everything and it’s like going through it all with friends.”

Along the way, Standish has played a big part in Gonzaga’s transformation from a growing program to perennial winner, with her and the Bulldogs’ other four seniors playing in their fourth straight NCAA tournament, including a third straight Sweet 16 where Kentucky awaits at 4 p.m. today.

“I’m very honored to be part of changing the program,” Standish said. “I take pride in being a part of it.”

“I always knew she was a special player and a great young lady,” said Craig Faire, Standish’s basketball coach at Ellensburg High who has remained in contact with her. “To see what she’s accomplished at the college level is fantastic.”

Even so, for Standish, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder this season and all-time blocked shots leader, reaching this pinnacle came with some early growing pains.

A three-sport standout at Ellensburg High who was the Class 2A state basketball player of the year her junior and senior seasons — the last of which saw E-burg fall by a point to River Ridge in the state title game — Standish quickly realized that none of those accolades would help her succeed at Gonzaga.

“Coming in, I knew I wasn’t strong enough,” said Standish, who endured the added burden of being thrust into a new position, playing in the low post.

“I started as a guard and they discovered my dribbling skills weren’t up to par, so they wanted me in the post,” the 6-foot-3 Standish said. “I had never played with my back to the basket before.”

Learning from and playing behind Heather Bowman and Vivian Frieson, Standish began a bruising transition.

“Bowman and Vivian would kick my butt every day in practice,” she said. “I learned a lot from getting my butt kicked every day.”

For two years she labored in a reserve role, although she did average 8.1 points as a sophomore, honing her skills and knowing her opportunity was coming.

“Sitting on the bench, it took time for me to find my fit but I stayed motivated,” said Standish, who proved to be well-prepared when her time came, averaging 17.1 points and 8.4 rebounds last season and boasting team-best totals of 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds this season.

“I knew I had a big role to fill (as a junior) but I had a lot of help on the court,” she said of her teammates, particularly point guard Courtney Vandersloot, helping her quickly feel comfortable and confident in her expanded role.

Standish’s eventual success is the result of her pure athletic abilities blending with a dynamic competitive drive and mental toughness, Faire said.

“She’s one of those kids who was confident in herself but also worked hard to keep getting better,” Faire said. “She was never arrogant. She’s one of the most coachable players I’ve ever worked with and was always willing to do what you asked.

“They needed her inside and that’s what she did. Give Kayla a lot of credit. It shows her drive that she was going to make this work. It shows how hard she has worked to have this type of career.”

That motivation is also evident in her efforts to help fill a leadership role this season.

Although admitting she’s never really been a vocal leader — hers is more by example — the soft-spoken Standish has emerged as a guiding force for coach Kelly Graves, although it didn’t come easily.

“You mean something besides the coaches yelling at me every day?” she said, laughing, when ask how she’s stepped up as a leader this season.

Noting her “humble” qualities, Faire understands the challenge she faced, but also knew she’d meet it head on.

“She still doesn’t like to talk much; she let’s it show on the floor,” said Faire, adding that he talked to her about this before the season. “(But) she’s figured it’s her time. It was one of the things she expected. Kelly told her she was going to have to step up as a leader; have to step up as a scorer, and she’s done that.”

In one way, the leadership displayed by Standish and her fellow seniors has been simply reminding the younger players what the Gonzaga program has evolved into — and not just in terms of wins and losses.

“We just try to ingrain what a special thing we’ve got going at Gonzaga,” Standish said. “We’ve been a growing program for years … and our team and coaches are very close.”

That bond was evident to Standish on her recruiting visit and the main reason she chose Gonzaga over, at the time, higher-profile schools California, Washington and Washington State.

“I went to coach Graves’ house and hung out with his family and the assistant coaches and players,” she said. “It was a big family. It’s close, like my family at home. There’s a lot of love on this team.

“The team has always had a strong bond and that’s shown on the floor.”

“Of the many reasons she went there, number one was the family atmosphere,” Faire said.

Now, an emotional Standish admits that it’s hard to think about this special run ending, but, true to her nature, she’s managed to turn it into a positive.

“It’s a scary feeling but I think it’s motivating,” said Standish, who does plan to pursue professional basketball opportunities. “It’s not a good feeling knowing the next loss will be my last game, but it brings out the drive in me to try putting it off as long as possible.”

Whenever that moment arrives — whether today against Kentucky, in the championship game April 3 or somewhere in between — Standish is certain of one thing — she did in fact make the right decision.

“I know why I came to Gonzaga and why I play basketball. I love it. It’s my passion,” she said. “Things have been way better than I expected. I’ve had the time of my life at Gonzaga. This has been the best four years of my life.”

Notable

• Gonzaga’s all-time leader in blocked shots (176 through today).

• As a junior, became just fifth Gonzaga player to top 600 points in a season (617).

• Had back-to-back 30-point games in ’11 NCAA tournament, the first Bulldog to score that many points in consecutive games, regular or postseason.

• Averaged team-best 21.2 in NCAA tournament last season.

• Played on U.S. Pan American Games team last summer.

High school

• Three-sport standout in volleyball, basketball and track and field at Ellensburg.

• Two-time Class 2A state basketball player of the year (’07, ’08).

• Led Ellensburg to 4 state basketball appearances and 3 trophies, including runner-up finish in ’08.

• Topped 2,000 points (2,076) in basketball.

• Helped Ellensburg to 3 straight state state volleyball trophies, capped by third-place finish in ’07.

• Won 9 state track and field medals, including 3 runner-up finishes.

• Yakima Sports Awards’ female athlete of the year in ’06 and ’08, and female basketball player of the year ’06, ’07 and ’08.

Cle Elum’s Iacolucci gets pro acclaim

YAKIMA, Wash. — When your golf swing draws raves from a successful touring pro, you know you must be doing something right.

That’s what Rylee Iacolucci learned last August when longtime PGA and Champions tour player Peter Jacobsen marveled at the smooth yet powerful swing Iacolucci displayed in firing one ball after another long and straight down the fairway during a clinic at the opening of Suncadia’s Rope Rider course.

“At the moment, I didn’t notice, I was just having fun,” Iacolucci said of Jacobsen’s high praise. “After it was over, I realized that was pretty cool to be told by a pro that he was impressed with your swing.”

And that’s not the only thing Iacolucci is doing right when it comes to golf — all in a remarkably short period of time.

The Cle Elum senior’s game has morphed from a beginner taking his hacks on the driving range to a scratch golfer in just four years.

“When he was younger, he was a baseball player,” said Wade Iacolucci, Rylee’s father and golf coach at Cle Elum. “He never took up competitive golf until he was a freshman in high school.

“But when he took it up, he went at it full tilt.”

Rylee said his motivation was pretty simple.

“What got me going was playing so bad that I wanted to get better — and it worked,” said Iacolucci, who will head to Lewis-Clark State University this fall to continue his golf career.

The growth of Iacolucci’s game can be gauged by his past state appearances.

As a freshman in 2009, the first year he started working full-bore on his game, he shot 96 in the opening round and missed the cut. In 2010, he tied for 27th place, shooting 80-77 for a 157 total, and then last spring, he tied for seventh place, with rounds of 76-74 for a 150 total.

“He’s improved on the completeness of his swing; it’s fundamentally sound,” Wade Iacolucci said. “But he’s grown leaps and bounds managing the game.”

“The biggest thing that’s changed is my confidence,” Rylee said. “I know my swing is solid. Now I’m just matching my mental capabilities up with that.”

Since the end of last season, Iacolucci has put more focus on the mental aspect.

“He’s worked so hard on his game, but you also have to learn how to think on the course,” Wade Iacolucci said. “Our plan (this spring) is not to focus on shooting a number … but how he handles the game.

“We want him playing aggressive when he has the opportunity but not playing reckless.”

That’s a message Rylee embraces.

“Most mistakes will be mental, not physical. I have to be able to pull back when I have to,” he said. “The one goal I want to have is I always want to be in play. I don’t want to take myself out of a hole.

“My scores should improve if I keep myself in play.”

That’s certainly been the case in the past year and it’s likely continue for a young man who has truly dedicated himself to the game.

“I’ve spent so much time on golf,” he said. “Since my freshman year, I’d play until the snow comes down and can’t go out.

“Now everything is coming together.”

Just ask Peter Jacobsen.

2012 Prep golf preview capsules

CBBN 4A

BOYS

ONES TO WATCH: Alex Willson, sr., Davis (2nd team ’11 all-CBBN); Martin Medina, sr., Davis; Wes Powers, jr., Eisenhower (’11 district qualifier); Hunter Thompson, Richland (T3rd in ’11 state); Jeff Marcum (10th ’11 state); Cole Lorenzo (T21st ’11 state); Brendan Cox, Moses Lake; Tanner Montgomery, Moses Lake; Nic Atwood, Walla Walla; Dean Atkinson, Walla Walla.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Ike has its best turnout in years with 18 golfers, led by Powers, who plays in the mid 80s. Others back include Nate Geffre, William Flett, Ridge Harmon and Colton Hinman, with freshmen Joe Fenich and Austin Backes solid players. … Davis has some experience with seniors Willson, Medina, Eddie Espinoza, and juniors William Chapman and Jamison Baur. … The team to beat is Richland, which returns 3 ’11 state placers, including 2 top 10s, and took 3rd as a team.

GIRLS

ONES TO WATCH: Kristen Strankman, Richland (T3rd ’11 state); Kelci Robertson, Richland (’11 state qualifier); Hope Neidhold, Richland (’11 SQ); Molly David, Richland (2nd team ’11 all-CBBN); Jordan Takasugi, Wenatchee (T23rd ’11 state); Jessica Huntsman, Walla Walla (1st team ’11 all-CBBN); Cassie Patterson, Walla Walla (HM ’11 all-CBBN); Haylee Hammons, Chiawana (1st team ’11 all-CBBN); Vanessa Goodwin, Moses Lake (2nd team ’11 all-CBBN); Tiffany Johnson, Chiawana (HM ’11 all-CBBN).

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Davis has 8 golfers out, led by juniors Blanca Manrique, Annyce Armstead, Pilar Hernandez and Victoria Lopez. … Ike has just 3 players, with sophomore Kyliann Anderson the lone returner. … Richland, 5th at state in 2011, leads a strong league, with Walla Walla and Chiawana both returning multiple all-league players.

CBBN 3A

BOYS

ONES TO WATCH: Matt Mickelson, jr., West Valley; Sam Snipes, jr., WV; Tanner Martin, Hanford (T15th ’11 state); Cole Risley, Hanford; Alex White, Hanford; Eric Dahl, Hanford; Samson Martinez, Pasco (3rd ’11 state); Daniel Haug, Pasco; Nick Mandell, Southridge (T8th ’11 state); Daniel Cruzen, Southridge (45th ’11 state).

AROUND THE LEAGUE: West Valley lost 2011 state champ Eric Gravbrot, but returns 8 others, including Mickelson, Snipes, senior Kameron Schmidt and sophomore Conor O’Brien, and has promising freshman Dylan Dietrich. … Sunnyside’s 7-player contingent is led by juniors Chandler Luther and Nathan Meyer. … Hanford is exceptionally deep, while Southridge, 7th at ’11 state, returns Cruzen and Mandell.

GIRLS

ONES TO WATCH: Miranda Swanson, jr., West Valley; Alexis Brown, jr., West Valley; Taylor Kain-Godoy, Hanford (T15th ’11 state); Kelsey Aiello, Hanford (T17th ’11 state); Bri Hadler, Hanford (19th ’11 state); Katie Stephens, Hanford (’11 state qualifier); Neydeen Martinez, Pasco (14th ’11 state); Kelsey Bigness, Kamiakin (’11 SQ); Taylor Monson, Kamiakin (HM ’11 all-CBBN); McKenzie Andrealta, Southridge (HM ’11 all-CBBN).

AROUND THE LEAGUE: West Valley will lean on Swanson, Brown and Shelby Meyer. … Sunnyside has 2 out, with Ashley Davis having some experience. … Hanford has the talent to better its ’11 3rd-place state finish.

CWAC

BOYS

ONES TO WATCH: Andrew Raab, so., East Valley (25th’11 state); Chad Cameron, sr., East Valley (’11 state qualifier); Scott Whitaker, jr., Ellensburg; Devin Bender, sr., Prosser (’11 SQ); Derek Wood, jr., Selah (’11 district champion); Adrian Pacheco, jr., Toppenish; Alex Katzsey, sr., Wapato; Garrett Jacobs, fr., Wapato; Andrew Whalen, Ephrata (T4th ’11 state); Bryan Heer, Ephrata (HM ’11 all-CWAC); Colton Hall (28th ’11 state); Trevor Salisbury, Othello (’11 SQ).

AROUND THE LEAGUE: East Valley is a serious contender for the league title with Raab and Cameron joined by returners Connor Black and Kyle Munley, and freshmen Andrew Devine and Avery Black. … Selah, under new coach Jeff Weeks, has a strong group to defend its district title, with Wood joined by Scott Graff, Steven Anderson, Jonathon Cruz, Joel Ford and Chase Brader. … Ellensburg has a solid core that includes Alden Ness, Mac Miller and Riley Miller. … Prosser’s 12-player contingent is led by Bender, McCauley Homan and Darrek Dodgson. … Grandview’s group of 9 features returners Justin Murbach, Dylan Parker, Sean Charvet, Matthew Dailey, and freshman Anthony Kollmar. … Ephrata (8th ’11 state) and Othello (10th ’11 state) each return 2 key golfers from those squads.

GIRLS

ONES TO WATCH: Allyson Ingraham, jr., East Valley (’11 state qualifier); Alexa Palomarez, sr., East Valley (’11 regional qualifier); Kayla Lucas, jr., Grandview (’11 RQ); Taylor Jones, sr., Selah (39th ’11 state); Briana Nelson, sr., Selah (’10 SQ); Katie Daniels, sr., Selah (’11 state alternate); Payton Green, fr., Toppenish; Michelle Baluca, sr., Wapato (’11 SQ); Jennifer Cruz, sr., Wapato (’11 RQ); Anne Milne, jr., Wapato (’11 RQ); Delaney Towle, Othello (T17th ’11 state); Katelyn Andrews, Othello (’11 SQ).

AROUND THE LEAGUE: With five seniors, including Nelson, Jones, Daniels and Cassy Burns, Selah should challenge for the league title. … Ellensburg has a young team, with Taylor Canini the lone senior. … Grandview will count on Lucas and Neira Jiminez. … Prosser senior Alex Rijoas has improved. … Othello, 6th at state in ’11, returns 2 state qualifiers. … Ephrata graduated its top three players.

CLASS 1A, B

BOYS

ONES TO WATCH: Rylee Iacolucci, sr., Cle Elum (7th ’11 state); Ryan Selzler, sr., Cle Elum (’11 state qualifier); Griffon Alexander, sr., Cle Elum (’11 SQ); Riley Ross, sr., Goldendale (’11 SQ); Andrew Wall, sr., Goldendale (’10 SQ); Taylor Garent, jr., Highland; Beau Wangler, so., La Salle (T28th ’11 state); Jack Sutton, sr., La Salle (’11 SQ); Ty Lighty, so., La Salle (’11 SQ); Matt Hoon, so., La Salle (’11 state alternate); Conner Oliver, sr., Naches Valley (’11 SQ); Dawson Roeber, sr., Naches Valley (’11 SQ); Caleb Duford, sr., Zillah (’11 SQ). Class B: Riverside Christian, Matt Guchee, sr.; Erik Forsee, sr.; Gage Neiffer, sr.; Derrick Phelps, fr.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Cle Elum’s Iacolucci has state-title potential, and the Warriors are deep with Callahan Peters and transfer T.J. Webb also capable of reaching the 80s. … La Salle, which also returns Brian Snyder, was a close 2nd to 2A power Othello at the Huskies’ invite Friday. … Naches Valley, 3rd at Othello, will also contend for the league title.

GIRLS

ONES TO WATCH: Bree Wanderscheid, so., Goldendale (T2nd ’11 state); Haley Gredvig, sr., Highland (4th ’11 districts); Grace Martin, so., La Salle (’11 state qualifier); Claire Moorer, sr., La Salle (’11 SQ); Cassie Voelker, sr., La Salle (’11 state alternate); Cindy Tapia, sr., Naches Valley (20th ’11 state); Hannah Cobleigh, jr., Naches Valley. Class B: Ashley Borello, jr., Riverside Christian.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Wanderscheid is also a state threat and makes Goldendale a contender for the league title. … La Salle is deep, with seniors Elena Holbrook and Cheyenne Taylor joining its state trio. … Naches Valley will challenge behind Tapia, Cobleigh, Brittney Deaton and Andrea Schuler. … Cle Elum’s Sarah Winebrenner, Sammy Clifton and Raechelle Gumeson can reach the 80s.

2A girls: Clarkston’s Weisner a rising star

YAKIMA, Wash. — After several minutes holding the gold ball aloft for her teammates, Jamie Weisner finally came over and handed the heavy hardware to her coach.

It was only fitting that Weisner carried the trophy after she had just finished carrying her Clarkston teammates to the Class 2A girls state championship.

Down nine at the half — and only because Weisner nailed a 3-pointer in the final seconds — and desperate for any kind of spark, Clarkston turned to their senior standout, who delivered a devastating second-half knockout.

The Oregon State-bound Weisner was unstoppable after a so-so first half, accounting for 26 of Clarkston’s 39 second-half points, scoring 13 in each quarter, to rally the Bantams to a 53-41 victory over East Valley.

“And Why not?” East Valley coach Robi Raab said when asked about Clarkston turning to the senior. “She’s just a great player. She’s a great kid.”

“Our offense has been geared through Jamie all year,” Clarkston coach Scott Thompson said, “and she’s carried the load all year.”

As for Weisner, she had a simple motivation coming out of the locker room.

“I was thinking that we were not going to lose this game,” said the tournament MVP, who finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds and three steals. “Coming into tournament, we knew we had a good chance to win it all.

“I just put everyone on my back, but I couldn’t do that without my teammates.”

Weisner made her intentions known right out of the gate, scoring Clarkston’s first 11 points in the period in every way imaginable.

She hit a jumper, drove through traffic for a layin, scored twice on putbacks — including one off her own missed free throw — and had a steal and fastbreak layin.

“Coach didn’t really say anything to me (at halftime), he just let’s me do what I do,” Weisner said.

When Weisner’s flurry was finished, East Valley’s advantage had shrunk to 27-25 and momentum was firmly on Clarkston’s side.

“Follow the leader — and she’s a tremendous leader,” Raab said.

Clarkston’s surge produced a 33-32 lead after three, and Weisner made sure the Bantams would hold that advantage. She scored Clarkston’s first five points of the fourth quarter and nine in a quarter-opening 11-0 burst that made it 44-32 with 3:13 remaining, all but securing their first state title.

“It was not so much a defensive change (by East Valley),” Weisner said of her second-half turnaround. “Our will to win changed. Our sense of urgency changed.”

“Jamie Weisner makes any coach look pretty smart,” Thompson said. “I’ve never met a player with that much talent and no ego.

“She’s such an amazing athlete. When she gets to the next level, you’ll see what an amazing player she is.”

SunDome fans got an early, up-close look Saturday.

1A girls: Spartans’ upset bid falls short

Top-ranked Freeman escapes against Granger ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — For three quarters, Granger out-hustled and out-worked Freeman, positioning itself for a colossal upset Thursday.

In the final eight minutes, the Scotties showed why they’re the two-time defending Class 1A champions.

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Elevating their game after being stymied for most of the afternoon, the Scotties, sparked by back-to-back 3-pointers by Katie Vold, pulled away for a 55-48 victory in the girls quarterfinal game in the SunDome.

“In the fourth quarter, we just didn’t want it bad enough,” said forward Lynsday Oswalt, who led the Spartans with 14 points and 11 rebounds. “It’s really tough knowing that we were right there.”

“We beat ourselves,” added Fantasia Reyes, who scored 13 points despite a 5-for-16 shooting night. “We had it. We just couldn’t finish it.”

After falling behind by nine points early in the second, Granger found its footing, running off a 15-2 burst en route to a 24-21 halftime lead, and still led 35-30 with a minute left in the third.

But the Spartans’ lack of patience and shot selection finally caught up with them.

In that final minute of the third, the Spartans had two turnovers and then, with a chance to hold for the final shot, rushed up a shot with about 10 seconds left, allowing Freeman to go down and get a last-second basket.

“At the end of the third, we had some rushed possessions,” Granger coach Andy Affholter said. “If we had played smart, who knows what would’ve happened?”

Granger grabbed its last lead at 38-36 on a 3-pointer by Angelica Oliveros, but Freeman seized control from that point.

With the game tied 38-all, Vold nailed her first 3-pointer with 5:19 to play, and after Granger’s Paige Blodgett missed a pair of free throws, Vold struck again, giving Freeman a 44-38 lead with 4:36 to play.

Granger closed within 44-41 with 3:48 left, but Freeman (26-1) answered with a putback jumper by Alyssa Maine, the last of the Scotties’ 17 second-chance points, and a basket by Sierra McGarity at the 2-minute mark to effectively secure a spot in today’s semifinals against Lynden Christian.

“It was tough losing, because we knew we could’ve done it if we had not been throwing up stupid shots,” said Oswalt, whose team went 4 of 13 from the field with eight turnovers after taking a 34-30 lead with 2:22 left in the third quarter.

“The last eight minutes, they (Freeman) wanted to play in the semifinals a lot more than we did,” Affholter said. “They made the hustle plays.”

Granger (20-5) must quickly regroup and prepare for Cascade Christian, a must-win if the Spartans are to capture a fifth-straight state trophy.

“We’ve got to forget about this,” Reyes said, “and concentrate on finding a way to get to Saturday and bring home a trophy.”

Sunnyside Christian boys, girls find answers to early season questions

YAKIMA, Wash. — Entering this season, both Sunnyside Christian teams had plenty of question marks after graduating key pieces from the previous year.

Heading into this week’s Class 1B state tournaments, each seems to have found the answers for another strong showing in the Spokane Arena.

“Certainly the personnel has changed drastically,” Knights boys coach Dean Wagenaar said of a team that lost five seniors, including four starters, from a squad that won the school’s second straight state title and fourth in five years. “We have a whole new puzzle we had to put together.”

To date, Wagenaar has fit the pieces together quite effectively as the fourth-ranked Knights (18-6) prepare to face third-ranked Valley Christian in the 9 a.m. quarterfinal Thursday.

Similarly, girls coach Al Smeenk has filled in the gaps and has his third-ranked team playing at a high level heading into Thursday’s 9 p.m. quarterfinal against Cusick.

“The girls have a great attitude and are self-motivated,” Smeenk said. “They have the right mindset.”

Both teams will have to be at their best against strong fields.

“I feel like there are four or five teams that are all pretty even,” Wagenaar said. “We just have to take advantage of the opportunity God’s given us.”

The boys’ challenge begins Thursday against a tall Valley Christian team that has players going 6-foot-7 and 6-5, with its leading scorers a pair of 6-4 forwards — Craver Small (16.3 average) and Nick Cox (10.9).

“They’re a very athletic, very talented group,” Wagenaar said of the Panthers. “They want to push the ball — run and gun. It’s absolutely essential that we control the tempo.

“Our kids are competitive and we can be competitive with them.”

Although the Knights endured plenty of change, they still have top-scorer Trevor Wagenaar (21.8), along with Brandon Broersma, Alex Brouwer, Jackson Haak and Drew Puterbaugh back from last season’s team.

The difference is that this group can’t rely on having better talent.

“Our success this year is about team basketball. There’s not really a ‘Wow’ factor,” Dean Wagenaar said. “We have to play disciplined, rock-solid defense and make teams work for everything.”

Balance is the best way to describe the girls team as well.

The Knights’ have just two players averaging in double figures scoring — and just barely — with senior forward Marisa Broersma at 11.5 points and sophomore guard Stormee Van Belle at 10.9.

“On a variety of nights, we’ve had a different leading scorer,” Smeenk said. “We’ve established roles.”

Where the Knights have truly excelled is at the defensive end.

In the past nine games, Sunnyside Christian has allowed more than 30 points just once — in a 41-32 non-league victory over DeSales.

“They are really pushing each other,” Smeenk said. “They want practice to be harder than the games. They know if they don’t work hard, they will not play.

“I think we’ll be fine.”

Prep basketball: Defensive Devils roll

East Valley girls beat Wapato for CWAC district title ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — Teams always try to time things so they’re playing their best basketball in the postseason.

Based on their performance in Saturday’s CWAC district championship game, the East Valley girls have accomplished that goal.

Blending a balanced offensive attack with another suffocating defensive effort, the third-ranked Red Devils were in complete control pretty much from the outset against a very good Wapato team, eventually dispatching the sixth-ranked Wolves 54-39 at West Valley High School.

 

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“We were ready and prepared to play,” said guard Yasi Mohsenian, who sparked the offense with three 3-pointers in the opening quarter. “We wanted this so bad — to have the chance to cut down the nets.”

“They were excited to play this game,” East Valley coach Robbi Raab said. “Wapato hit some shots early and I was pleased with the way they held their composure.”

That early spurt gave Wapato (19-3) an 8-6 lead, but that would turn out to be the high point of the Wolves’ evening.

East Valley (21-1) responded with a 9-0 run to take the lead for good, and closed the quarter on a 17-2 burst to lead 23-10 after one quarter.

Mohsenian and Jamie Hodgson keyed East Valley’s effective inside-out game. Mohsenian scored 10 of her team-best 15 points in that opening quarter, all on long jumpers. That forced Wapato to stretch its defense, and Hodgson got loose inside to collect six of her 13 points in the period.

“When Yasi started us off, that got things opened up inside,” Hodgson said.

Things clicked just as well at the defensive end as East Valley’s zone forced Wapato to play almost exclusively from the perimeter, as evidenced by the Wolves attempting just two free throws in the game.

The Red Devils also did an outstanding job contesting most of those jump shots as Wapato was just 17 of 50 for the game (34 percent), including 3 of 16 on 3-pointers (19 percent).

Briana Cordova led Wapato with 12 points, while leading scorer Sammi Jo Blodgett added 11 but was just 5 of 19 shooting, including 1 of 6 from 3-point range.

“East Valley always been know for its defense,” Mohsenian said. “We knew if we let down, Wapato would take advantage.”

East Valley didn’t ease up and head to regionals off one of its best all-around games of the season. The Red Devils will play at 7:45 p.m. Saturday against the winner of Friday’s Ephrata-Cheney game. The site will either be Cheney High or Eastern Washington University.

Wapato meets Pullman at 7:45 p.m. Friday at Cheney High.

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