WINTER PREVIEW-Warrenton Girls Basketball
LEAGUE: Lewis & Clark League (3A)
The new 3A league will be stronger in girls basketball than boys, with O.E.S. and Catlin Gabel both competing for the top spot with Rainier. Warrenton and Neah-Kah-Nie were competitively fairly even last year and should remain so. Vernonia has one of the league's top athletes in Joreigh Landers, but her supporting cast is shaky. Portland Adventist is usually not a postseason factor. The league is solid top to bottom and fairly strong up top with Rainier a clear favorite.
HEAD COACH: John Mattila (11th year, 181-81)
ASST COACH: Jason Elliott (JV), Stephanie Claterbos (C team), Allison Richards (vol. asst.)
The only change here is in Richards' last name (nee Mattila).
2005 RECORD:11-15 (6-8 NWL West Division 3rd tie)
LAST PLAYOFFS: lost at De La Salle 51-31 in league playoffs
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: West champs in '02, NWL champs in '93
CURRENT COLLEGE/PRO ATHLETES:DeeDee Arnall (Pacific U. graduate, training for U.S. Olympic trials in javelin)
KEY GRAUDUATES/LOSSES:Whitney Johnson, Olivia Newbold (both 4-year varsity, 3-year starters)
RETURNING ALL-STARS: none
Newbold was a workhorse inside, but never developed into an offensive threat. Johnson developed into an opportunistic defender by her senior year and was one of the Warriors' only outside scoring threats.
RETURNING STARTERS: Lesleann Hayward (W/P, 5-8, SR), Audrey Dove (P, 5-7, SR), Jordane Marxer (PG, 5-7, SO)
RETURNING LETTERMEN: 12
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Emily Ogren (P, 5-9, SR), Chelsea Neahring (P, 5-7, JR), Justine Marxer (G, 5-4, SR), Amber Hackwith (W/P, 5-8, SR)
Despite the loss of two longtime contributor, the Warriors should show significant improvement this season. With a glut of post players and some emerging talent in the backcourt, this could be Warrenton best shot at a state berth in four years. Hayward is the most experienced returner. Not the most fluid player, Hayward is blessed with explosive athletic ability and ably answered the call to bring the ball upcourt last year when the Warriors struggled with ballhandling, despite being better suited to playing in the middle. Hayward is a reluctant shooter, who must be more aggressive offensively for the Warriors to be successful. Although nobody on the team is taller than 5-9, the Warriors are loaded with capable post players. Dove is a strong rebounder and Ogren has the wingspan and anticipation to be a top interior defender. Neahring is ferocious on the boards, but has to avoid silly fouls. Hackwith has the strength to play in low, but was used mainly as a 3-point bomber in a zone busting or late-game comeback role. Jordane Marxer was thrown to the lions by necessity last season, when she could have used a year of J.V. seasoning. This year, she is bigger and stronger and should give the Warriors a little more offensive production. Older sister Justine is best suited to a backup role, but will rotate with Pam Wilkins (W, 5-6, SR) at off guard until some younger players sort out personal issues. Justine will also back up Jordane at point. Katie McBride (P, 5-8, SR) gives the Warriors some depth in the post and is longer than she is tall. An effort player, she is selfless to a fault.
KEY NEWCOMERS:Jordyn Holt (G, 5-3, FR)
TEAM STRENGTHS: very good depth through the program
TEAM WEAKNESSES: scoring, good athletes but few pure basketball players
TOP NWL CONTENDERS:RAINIER, Oregon Episcopal, Catlin Gabel
TOP 3A CONTENDERS: BURNS, Rainier, Myrtle Point, Harrisburg
TOP L&C PLAYERS:HEIDI JACKSON (RAI), Mollee Schwegler (Rai), Megan Benson (Rai), Tia McCormick (NKN), Joreigh Landers (Ver)
TOP 3A PLAYERS:JESSICA CLEMENS (BURNS), Jackson (Rai)
PROJECTED FINISH: should contend for top three, state berth
The Warriors have 35 girls out for basketball and have 20 legitimate players who could contribute on varsity, including three quality freshman guards. Holt is the most advanced and may be the quickest player Mattila has coached, which will allow her to defend at a varsity-caliber level, a necessity to get any playing time. The Warriors have two other sophomores sorting out personal health issues that could be major contributors before the season is out. This team is fairly well stocked with athletes, but the big question is who will score? A go-to scorer has yet to emerge. Expect some more low-scoring, defensive games for the time being as Warrenton sorts out player rotations and evaluates talent. This team is good enough to compete at a high level in this league if it can find ways to put the ball in the hole other than offensive rebounds and in transition.
The new 3A league will be stronger in girls basketball than boys, with O.E.S. and Catlin Gabel both competing for the top spot with Rainier. Warrenton and Neah-Kah-Nie were competitively fairly even last year and should remain so. Vernonia has one of the league's top athletes in Joreigh Landers, but her supporting cast is shaky. Portland Adventist is usually not a postseason factor. The league is solid top to bottom and fairly strong up top with Rainier a clear favorite.
HEAD COACH: John Mattila (11th year, 181-81)
ASST COACH: Jason Elliott (JV), Stephanie Claterbos (C team), Allison Richards (vol. asst.)
The only change here is in Richards' last name (nee Mattila).
2005 RECORD:11-15 (6-8 NWL West Division 3rd tie)
LAST PLAYOFFS: lost at De La Salle 51-31 in league playoffs
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: West champs in '02, NWL champs in '93
CURRENT COLLEGE/PRO ATHLETES:DeeDee Arnall (Pacific U. graduate, training for U.S. Olympic trials in javelin)
KEY GRAUDUATES/LOSSES:Whitney Johnson, Olivia Newbold (both 4-year varsity, 3-year starters)
RETURNING ALL-STARS: none
Newbold was a workhorse inside, but never developed into an offensive threat. Johnson developed into an opportunistic defender by her senior year and was one of the Warriors' only outside scoring threats.
RETURNING STARTERS: Lesleann Hayward (W/P, 5-8, SR), Audrey Dove (P, 5-7, SR), Jordane Marxer (PG, 5-7, SO)
RETURNING LETTERMEN: 12
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Emily Ogren (P, 5-9, SR), Chelsea Neahring (P, 5-7, JR), Justine Marxer (G, 5-4, SR), Amber Hackwith (W/P, 5-8, SR)
Despite the loss of two longtime contributor, the Warriors should show significant improvement this season. With a glut of post players and some emerging talent in the backcourt, this could be Warrenton best shot at a state berth in four years. Hayward is the most experienced returner. Not the most fluid player, Hayward is blessed with explosive athletic ability and ably answered the call to bring the ball upcourt last year when the Warriors struggled with ballhandling, despite being better suited to playing in the middle. Hayward is a reluctant shooter, who must be more aggressive offensively for the Warriors to be successful. Although nobody on the team is taller than 5-9, the Warriors are loaded with capable post players. Dove is a strong rebounder and Ogren has the wingspan and anticipation to be a top interior defender. Neahring is ferocious on the boards, but has to avoid silly fouls. Hackwith has the strength to play in low, but was used mainly as a 3-point bomber in a zone busting or late-game comeback role. Jordane Marxer was thrown to the lions by necessity last season, when she could have used a year of J.V. seasoning. This year, she is bigger and stronger and should give the Warriors a little more offensive production. Older sister Justine is best suited to a backup role, but will rotate with Pam Wilkins (W, 5-6, SR) at off guard until some younger players sort out personal issues. Justine will also back up Jordane at point. Katie McBride (P, 5-8, SR) gives the Warriors some depth in the post and is longer than she is tall. An effort player, she is selfless to a fault.
KEY NEWCOMERS:Jordyn Holt (G, 5-3, FR)
TEAM STRENGTHS: very good depth through the program
TEAM WEAKNESSES: scoring, good athletes but few pure basketball players
TOP NWL CONTENDERS:RAINIER, Oregon Episcopal, Catlin Gabel
TOP 3A CONTENDERS: BURNS, Rainier, Myrtle Point, Harrisburg
TOP L&C PLAYERS:HEIDI JACKSON (RAI), Mollee Schwegler (Rai), Megan Benson (Rai), Tia McCormick (NKN), Joreigh Landers (Ver)
TOP 3A PLAYERS:JESSICA CLEMENS (BURNS), Jackson (Rai)
PROJECTED FINISH: should contend for top three, state berth
The Warriors have 35 girls out for basketball and have 20 legitimate players who could contribute on varsity, including three quality freshman guards. Holt is the most advanced and may be the quickest player Mattila has coached, which will allow her to defend at a varsity-caliber level, a necessity to get any playing time. The Warriors have two other sophomores sorting out personal health issues that could be major contributors before the season is out. This team is fairly well stocked with athletes, but the big question is who will score? A go-to scorer has yet to emerge. Expect some more low-scoring, defensive games for the time being as Warrenton sorts out player rotations and evaluates talent. This team is good enough to compete at a high level in this league if it can find ways to put the ball in the hole other than offensive rebounds and in transition.
posted by Matt Richert at 11:23 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home