CBL 3A Girls Preview
CBL 3A girls predicted order of finish
Hanford Falcons
Coach: Evan Woodward (6th year).
Last state trip: 2006.
Returnees / Pos. / Yr. / Ht.Chelsey DePeel / G / Jr. / 5-6
Shana Fredrickson / F / Sr. / 5-11
Ashleigh Garcia / G / Sr. / 5-5
Adrienne Johnson / G / Sr. / 5-5
Brittany Quick / P / Jr. / 6-2
Newcomers / Pos. / Yr. / Ht.
Kristin Barott / F / Jr. / 5-10
Brittini Butler / P / Jr. / 6-1
Chantal Petkus / G / Jr. / 5-4
Stacey Stanhope / F / Soph. / 5-10
Haley Tank / G / Soph. / 5-7
P.J. Wilson / G / Soph. / 5-7
Yes, the Falcons went 21-6 last season, won the final Mid-Valley district title and Eastern Regional championship en route to their first state berth in nine years.
That's all good and well, but that's where any mention of last season should end, according to Woodward.
And don't even get him started about who'll replace All-Area MVP point guard Nikki DePeel.
"I don't think you can ever replace a Nikki DePeel," he said. "The whole team is different. We return a decent core from last year, but this group didn't win those titles. We're starting fresh this year."
It's a more athletic team than a year ago, with Fredrickson and Quick taking on more of the inside scoring load with the graduation of third-team All-Area post De'Chauna Skinner.
"Brittany is a low-post threat, but her midrange game is developing nicely," Woodward said. "And Shana's game is primarily about defense and working hard around the basket. She's such an athletic kid, though, we'll run her at the top of our press, and her offense comes from her defense."
Garcia takes over at off-guard and will be counted on to be the Falcons' primary outside scoring threat, while Tank moves up from the JV team to take over for DePeel at the point.
"We're not comparing Haley to Nikki, though," Woodward emphasized. "She's a very solid leader, and she's done a nice job so far of controlling the game. She sees the floor really well."
Butler, a transfer from Kiona-Benton who creates matchup problems on the wing, and Johnson, a steady player who came off the bench last season, are vying for the final starting spot in Woodward's three-guard attack.
Whomever of the two doesn't win that battle still will see plenty of playing time as Woodward plans on rotating all his players into the lineup in the early going.
"If we can get five or six kids to score 8-10 points a game, we'll be OK," he said. "Right now, it's a matter of trying to find those kids."
Kamiakin Braves
Coach: Tammy Hutchison (4th year).
Last state trip: 1999.
Last playoff trip: 2006.
Returnees / Pos. / Yr. / Ht.Tina Miller / G / Soph. / 5-5
Marcy Hjellum / F/G / Soph. / 5-9
Lyndsey Martin / P / Sr. / 5-8
Scarlett Mathews / P / Jr. / 5-10
Danyelle Hutchison / P / Jr. / 6-0
Whitney Brannan / G / Jr. / 5-6
Stacey Smith / P / Jr. / 5-10
Newcomers / Pos. / Yr. / Ht.
Jamie Campbell / F / Sr. / 5-6
Sarah O'Brien / F / Jr. / 5-7
Kelci Weese / G / Sr. / 5-2
Alegra Wilde / G / Soph. / 5-3
Kayla Wilmoth / G / Jr. / 5-2
Kamiakin's title hopes took a hit when freshman Jori Skorpik tore her ACL midway through the soccer season.
Skorpik, who had surgery Nov. 21, was penciled in as the starting point guard after shining with the Braves during the summer. Her absence resulted in some reshuffling as Hutchison tries to figure out who to run the show between Miller, who saw increased playing time as a freshman as the season went along, and Brannan, the team's best perimeter defender.
"I think we're going to be OK, though," Hutchison said. "Whitney can do it. Tina can do it. All three of them would have been interchangeable. It's a matter of who shows me they're leading the team the best will be the point guard."
The Braves at least have one position that's question-free. Martin, a first-team All-Big Nine post a year ago, combines the footwork and aggressiveness that made her the All-Area soccer MVP as a defender with a soft shooting touch. She averaged 12 ppg and had 13 games of double-figure scoring.
"Her name speaks for itself," Hutchison said. "She's an all-around great player. In those tight spots in games, we have faith in her, and she wants the ball in those moments."
Who'll join Martin in the middle remains to be seen. Danyelle Hutchison has shown flashes the past two years but needs to be more consistent, Mathews showed marked improvement in her post play over the summer, and Smith looks to expand her role after being a bit player a year ago.
Hjellum will be counted on to provide an outside shooting threat lost with the graduation of sharpshooters Sarah Sandusky and Brianne Fish.
The wild card could be Wilde, a Kennewick transfer who was cleared last week by the District 5 Eligibility Committee to play.
"When she came over, we knew she was a good softball player, but we didn't realize how good a basketball player she was," said Hutchison, who also heads up the softball program. "Her best asset is her passing."
WestValley Rams
Coach: Greg Oldham (1st year).
Last state trip: 2005.
Last playoff trip: 2006.
Returnees / Pos. / Yr. / Ht.Katie Hawkins / C / Sr. / 6-0
Brittany Murillo / G / Sr. / 5-6
Erin Olander / F / Sr. / 5-9
Liz Tikriti / G / Soph. / 5-8
Newcomers / Pos. / Yr. / Ht.
Kristin Abhold / G / Sr. / 5-3
Taylor Fannin / F / Jr. / 5-9
Shayna Gilliam / G / Jr. / 5-7
Bethany Hunter / F / Sr. / 5-10
Erin Richardson / C / Soph. / 6-1
Katelin Sillery / F / Soph. / 5-10
Team Turmoil no more, the Rams turn to Oldham, an old hand around the coaching ranks, to run the program after Jason Rubright resigned after five seasons.
Oldham, who took a year off from teaching and coaching last year to work in juvenile corrections on the westside, previously coached for five years at Coupeville and also at White Swan and Eisenhower.
He represents a fresh start both on and off the court. The Rams, always one of the more athletic teams in the Mid-Valley, will use their athleticism and depth to full advantage this year, running on offense and pressuring full-court on defense.
"I feel I had 18 kids who could have made a claim for a varsity spot," he said. "So if we can get up and down the court, make it a track meet, my six through 10 players are going to play a bunch, and so will yours. I think we have the advantage then."
Hawkins is the Rams' best post threat, and after playing with a select team all summer, she has expanded her range out to about 17 feet as she anticipates playing on the perimeter in college.
Murillo, the cousin of 2005 Mid-Valley MVP Cassidy Murillo (now playing at SeattleUniversity), has committed to play soccer at Embry-RiddleAeronauticalUniversity in Arizona next year. Tikriti, who started a couple games as a freshman, could develop into WestValley's next college recruit in Oldham's opinion.
"She'll do things out there you just can't guard," he said. "She'll make a move off the dribble that you just don't see often from a sophomore. And she's a great on-ball defender. My task is to help her round her game out."
Kennewick Lions
Coach: Joe Harshman (2nd year).
Last state trip: 2003.
Last playoff trip: 2005.
Returnees / Pos. / Yr. / Ht.Julia Draney / G / Jr. / 5-4
Amanda Hall / F / Soph. / 5-7
Sara Madrigal / F / Jr. / 5-7
Brittany Perez / G / Sr. / 5-5
Kylie Rail / F / Soph. / 5-8
Heather Urry / G / Jr. / 5-6
Newcomers / Pos. / Yr. / Ht.
Lorena Barajas / G / Jr. / 5-5
Anne Marie Driver / F / Fr. / 5-8
Danielle Ehlers / G / Soph. / 5-3
Reina Malito / G / Fr. / 5-7
Shailee Vlight / G / Soph. / 5-4
Speaking of turmoil, the Lions had some of that last season after the late hiring of Harshman, who moved down from Alaska to take the job and didn't get the chance to work with the team over the summer.
This year, the Lions went to three tournaments, played in a summer league and attended a camp, and Harshman thinks those 30-plus games together will make a difference this season.
"When you miss that stuff, you miss a lot," he said. "It makes a big difference in forming team unity."
The Lions graduated four seniors and had a couple players not return for personal reasons. The shakeup has left the team with just one senior, Perez at point guard -- who missed 12 of the last 13 games after suffering a broken hand over Christmas break -- but Harshman is excited about his youngsters' potential.
One to watch is Malito, who shined at Bethlehem Lutheran last year and already is being touted as one of the area's top guards.
"She plays very up-tempo and puts the ball on the floor real well," Harshman said. "She's just fit in great with the rest of the kids."
Hall led the team in 3-point shooting after being promoted in the middle of the season, and she'll be encouraged to fire them up this season.
"One of the characteristics of this bunch is that we can shoot," Harshman said.
"Brittany, Amanda, Kylie, Lorena -- they're all 3-point shooters. We want to get back to doing that more this year."
Madrigal, although undersized in the middle, is the team's best post player, although Harshman wants to move her away from the basket more this season to take advantage of her perimeter shooting.
Eastmont Wildcats
Coach: Brent Darnell (1st year).
Last state trip: 2002.
Last playoff trip: 2004.
Returnees / Pos. / Yr. / Ht.Lacy Baber / F / Jr. / 5-9
Chezny Goble / G / Sr. / 5-6
Jenna Haven / W / Sr. / 5-8
Anna Juchmes / G / Sr. / 5-6
Madison Miller / F / Soph. / 5-9
Brooke Randall / G / Soph. / 5-5
Kelsey Stutzman / G / Sr. / 5-7
Karinne Tuttle / G / Soph. / 5-4
Newcomers / Pos. / Yr. / Ht.
Camille Jeffris / F / Sr. / 5-7
Carissa Senkler / P / Soph. / 6-1
Kate Sparling / F / Jr. / 5-7
Chelsea Wright / G / Soph. / 5-6
Darnell is the Wildcats' third coach in as many seasons, taking over for Greg Mooney after he stepped down only one year after replacing longtime coach Dale Lambert.
The first thing Darnell, the JV coach last year and the freshman coach the previous two years, did when taking over the top job was sit down with Haven, who's received several scholarship offers in track.
"We talked about how track is her first love, but there was never a question in her mind about playing basketball," he said. "She's been involved in our summer and fall league. She's been 100 percent committed."
Good thing, too, because Eastmont with a healthy Haven and without is like night and day.
"She's not a great dribbler, but she's just real explosive with a quick first step," Darnell said. "She's also a quick jumper and elevates real well in the post."
Goble is the team's best outside threat and is a good complement to Haven in the backcourt. But the key for Eastmont to compete this season will be the play of its sophomores, especially Tuttle, who takes over at the point, and Miller, who toward the end of the season started adjusting to the more physical play of the Big Nine.
"Them getting experience as freshmen last year was an eye-opener," Darnell said. "But they gained some confidence and spent a lot of time in the weight room this offseason. They're going to have to come up big for us."
Southridge Suns
Coach: Kristen Willis (3rd year).
Last state trip: never.
Last playoff trip: 2000.
Returnees / Pos. / Yr. / Ht.Erica Colter / G / Soph. / 5-7
Kayln Leonard / G / Sr. / 5-7
Malerie Pitt / G / Jr. / 5-6
Newcomers / Pos. / Yr. / Ht.
Morgan Hall / F / Jr. / 5-10
Jamie Lyons / F / Fr. / 5-7
Jenna Wallace / G / Fr. / 5-6
Heather Worley / G / Fr. / 5-6
It's been a battle of attrition for Willis in her brief tenure with the Suns. She lost senior post Lara Zuroff to a torn ACL and MCL last season, and Zuroff won't play this year as she fights a staph infection in the same knee.
Add to that the graduation of second-leading scorer Brooke Smith and a fistful of underclassmen who chose not to turn out, and Southridge will be battling a numbers game again this season.
"We have three kids who've been with me two years now and know what standards I have," Willis said. "I feel like I've got seven kids who are totally committed to the program. For us, it's a battle mentally of 'Can we win?' We've definitely worked hard and put in the time. Once we have some success, I just think it'll be contagious."
One who's been a pleasant surprise is Hall, who slimmed down in the offseason and will be one of the Suns' main weapons inside.
Leonard had back-to-back double-digit scoring nights at the end of last season, while Colter suffered through the usual growing pains of a freshman point guard at the varsity level.
"Last year, she spent so much time just looking to get us into our offense, but this year we're looking to Erica to score more," Willis said. "She's going to have some kids come in who can push her, so she's constantly in the gym, looking to improve, working on her shot."
Two of those players pushing for playing time are Worley and Lyons, who could help Southridge improve on its 31.7 ppg of a year ago.
"Heather is just a real athletic kid whose played a lot of basketball for her age," Willis said. "She's more of a slasher and crasher on offense. Jamie just has a scoring mentality. She wants to shoot. Right now, they and the upperclassmen have meshed."
Sunnyside Grizzlies
Coach: Leo Gomez (8th year).
Last state trip: 2002.
Last playoff trip: 2006.
Returnees / Pos. / Yr. / Ht.Kayla Rollinger / P / Jr. / 5-11
Vanessa Torbay / G / Sr. / 5-7
Katie Wutzke / G / Soph. / 5-5
Shana Zamarron / G / Jr. / 5-2
Newcomers / Pos. / Yr. / Ht.
Marissa Gomez / G / Sr. / 5-2
Sarasa Partida / G / Fr. / 5-7
Victoria Ramos / G / Jr. / 5-5
Kelsey Rollinger / F / Soph. / 5-10
Alisa Sanchez / F / Sr. / 5-8
Megan Tyler / F / Soph. / 5-10
The Grizzlies also suffered some defections to go along with the graduation of their top two scorers, Talia Spini (13.5 ppg) and Fatima Ruelas (8.8 ppg).
"We're going to have to use what we have this year, and that's run the ball a lot more than we have in the past," Gomez said.
Gomez thinks he has the perfect point guard for the task in Zamarron. Wutzke, a streaky shooter from the outside, will be counted upon to improve upon her 4.7 ppg average as a freshman a year ago.
Torbay, who wasn't counted on to be a big contributor a year ago, instead developed into a starter and averaged 7.5 ppg, tops among returning players.
Kayla Rollinger will be the team's best inside scoring threat, but she also presents matchup problems with her midrange game and driving ability.
The fifth starter's job is between Kelsey Rollinger, the team's best defender, and Sanchez, a hard worker moving up from the JV.
"We'll be a scrappy team," Gomez said. "We need to work on our rebounding, though."