After four days of viewing the powerhouses in 4A, Tacoma is in for a bit of a shock. With the 3A tournament moving up to Seattle, the City of Destiny now hosts the state championship for 2A, better known as the classification of the flawed favorites.
|
2A Players to Watch |
| Ashley Andrews, Jr., Tumwater |
| Keri Arendse, Jr., Burlington-Edison |
| Misty Atkinson, Sr., Clarkston |
Lauren Hefflin, Sr., Ridgefield |
| Brittany Janz, Jr., Anacortes |
| Kellie McCann-Smith, Fr., Clarkston |
| Sara Paponjak, Fr., Foster |
| Claire Raap, Sr., Prosser |
| Sophie Russell, Jr., River Ridge |
| Kayla Standish, Jr., Ellensburg |
|
Anacortes came close to having the table run heading into the state tournament, but was knocked off by Sehome in districts. Likewise, River Ridge had its streak of 43 straight league wins snapped, then took a loss to Black Hills at district and was forced to beat Hockinson in a loser-out game to make it into the tournament.
Those two - Anacortes and River Ridge - were the only teams ranked in the HoopGurlz Elite Eleven this season and normally would be 2A tourney favorites. However, each now enters as a No. 3 seed and face tough first-round opponents. Anacortes now has to get past Clarkston and its double-trouble duo of Misty Atkinson, a Montana signee, and freshman sensation >Kellie McCann-Smith, while River Ridge takes on Keri Arendse and Burlington-Edison, which claimed the No. 1 seed in the tough Northwest District.
The bottom quarter of the bracket is a snake pit with Anacortes, Clarkston, Ellensburg and Tumwater all capable of winning the whole thing.
While its favorites may be flawed, the 2A tournament features a veritable buffet of top players. This is junior heaven, with Arendse, Ashley Andrews of Tumwater (committed to Tennessee for softball), Brittany Janz of Anacortes, Sophie Russell of River Ridge and Kayla Standish of Ellensburg virtually guaranteed to move on to the next level.
The recruiting gem of the bunch is Standish who, at 6 feet 2, can bury catch-and-shoot three-pointers by the bushels and has attracted the attention of a number of Pac-10 schools.
A look at the 16-team field:
Anacortes Seahawks
Northwest, 24-1
11 Alyssa Averill, So., 5-6
12 Brittany Janz, Jr., 5-6
14 Madison Mackenzie, So., 5-11
15 Krys Lijek, Sr., 5-7
20 Hayley Rieger, So., 5-6
21 Jacklyn Welk, Sr., 5-3
22 Amanda Kelly, Jr., 5-5
25 Hannah Holtgeerts, So., 6-1
31 Alyssa Welk, Sr., 5-5
32 Monica Archer, So., 5-10
33 Marinna Norton, Jr., 5-6
34 Kimberly Herrigstad, So., 5-6
Leading Scorers: Brittany Janz, 20.7; Alyssa Averill, 12.9
Coach: Ken Welk
Black Hills Wolves
Southwest, 18-4
4 Kaitlin Nielsen, Sr., 5-9
10 Chelsey Kaasa, So., 5-8
12 Aisha Jones, So., 5-8
20 Jill Battson, Sr., 5-5
21 Courtney Johnson, Jr., 5-9
22 Tasha Shipman, Jr., 5-3
30 Pia Menkertz, Jr., 5-8
32 Kathleen McGee, Jr., 5-10
33 Diana Stone, Sr., 5-6
34 Brianna Charette, Sr., 5-6
42 Chelsea Haskey, Fr., 6-0
44 Danielle Swain, Jr., 5-11
Leading Scorers: Danielle Swain, 9.9; Pia Menkertz, 8.1
Coach: Paul Dretsch
Burlington-Edison Tigers
Northwest, 18-5
4 Kendra Welling, Jr., 5-4
10 Keri Arendse, Jr., 5-7
11 Keisha Brown, Sr., 5-3
12 Brenna Anderson C 9 6-0
14 Darci Thoe, Jr., 5-8
21 Jessica Gaspard, Sr., 5-5
22 Sarah Berentson, Jr., 5-4
24 Sarah Stewart C 10 6-1
25 Caitlin Dotlich, Sr., 5-6
32 Jenna Browning, Jr., 5-7
35 Carley Nelson, Jr., 5-4
40 Brianna Thomas, Sr., 5-10
Leading Scorers:Keri Arendse, 15.5; Sarah Stewart, 9.6
Coach: Mike Buckholz
Cheney Blackhawks
Northeast, 15-9
10 Cami Hatch, Sr., 5-6
11 Maddie Brown, Sr., 5-6
12 Amanda Swenson, Sr., 5-2
20 Kyle Miller, Jr., 5-7
21 Gina DeCesare, Sr., 5-9
22 Crystal Igbinoba, Sr., 5-9
23 Amy Knox, Sr., 6-1
32 MacKenzie Lauber, Sr., 5-10
33 MacKensie Gaddy, Sr., 6-3
34 Ceri Palk, Jr., 5-6
40 Whitney Johnson, Sr., 5-7
42 Sarah Dixon, So., 5-7
Leading Scorers: Kyle Miller, 12.5; Maddie Brown, 6.6
Coach: Al Sautter
Clarkston Bantams
Northeast, 17-5
10 Courtney Gleason, Sr., 5-5
12 Stephanie Gilchrist, Fr., 5-5
20 Danielle Hutchins, Sr., 5-
22 Brook Beutler, Jr., 5-5
24 Michelle Malcom, Sr., 5-9
30 Alyssa James, So., 5-7
32 Amanda Laney, So., 5-9
34 Kellie McCann-Smith, Fr., 5-9
40 Misty Atkinson, Sr., 5-10
42 Jessi Anderson, Jr., 5-9
44 Lena Miraglio, So., 5-9
50 Jaimie Berghammer, Jr., 5-11
Leading Scorers: Kellie McCann-Smith, 16.4; Misty Atkinson, 15.9
Coach: Greg Oldham
East Valley Red Devils
Yakima Valley, 20-3
10 Kaylah Gonzales, Fr., 5-5
12 Arianna Mohsenian, Jr., 5-9
14 Brittnee Lee, Sr., 5-8
20 Julia Valicoff, Jr., 5-6
22 Caitie Osegueda, Jr., 5-6
24 Kendall Hull, So., 5-8
30 Michelle Reid, Sr., 5-8
32 Raechel Chandler, So., 5-5
40 Ellisa Dorsett, Sr., 5-9
42 Mandissa West, So., 5-9
44 Annie Martinez, Fr., 6-1
50 Lauren Walker, So., 6-0
Leading Scorers: Katie Hawkins, 12.3; Liz Tikriti, 11.0
Coach: Robi Raab
Eatonville Cruisers
West Central, 16-6
10 Kristin Schaub, Fr., 5-5
11 Emma Loftis, So., 5-8
12 Krystal Gee, Jr., 5-5
13 Denise Wilson, Jr., 5-6
14 Amanda White, So., 5-5
15 Richelle Heacock, Jr., 5-7
20 Fiona Norman, Jr., 5-8
21 Dani Carlman, Jr., 5-3
22 Kessley Medina, Jr., 5-5
33 Casey Hallman, Jr., 5-7
35 Lauren Hill, Jr., 5-6
44 Katie Morris, Jr., 5-6
Leading Scorers: Dani Carlman, 13.8; Casey Hallman, 8.4
Coach: Davina Serdahl
Ellensburg Bulldogs
Yakima Valley, 19-5
12 Mackenzie Pratt, Sr., 5-8
14 Rebecca Sharon, Sr., 5-7
20 Bailey Minor, Jr., 5-7
22 Tana Ferrell, So., 5-6
24 Kristen Wyatt, Jr., 5-8
30 Carrie Arnold, Sr., 6-1
32 Kayla Standish, Jr., 6-3
34 Holly Thorpe, Sr., 5-11
40 Gabby Eddings, Jr., 5-5
42 Deaira Gordon, Fr., 5-11
44 Nicole Prigge C 10 5-9
52 Casey Kelleher, So., 5-10
Leading Scorers: Kayla Standish, 18.6; Rebecca Sharon, 12.3
Coach: Craig Faire
Foster Bulldogs
West Central, 14-8
10 Celeste Leon, So., 5-6
12 Jamie Camp, Jr., 5-5
14 Jasmine Horton, Jr., 6-2
0
20 Ivona Ogramic, Jr., 5-7
24 Neta Tapealava, Fr., 5-6
30 Amanda Mendoza, So., 5-7
32 Sara Paponjak, So., 6-1
42 Sequoia Wallace, Fr., 5-9
44 Lanaya Daniels, Jr., 5-7
50 Shantel Carmichael, So., 5-9
52 Anita Samuel, So., 5-6
54 Icola Dotson, So., 5-5
Leading Scorers: Sara Paponjak, 16.1; Shantel Carmichael, 13.0
Coach: Eric Fletcher
Lynden Lions
Northwest, 11-14
2 Jill Toronchuk, So., 5-7
10 Averyl Shindruk, So., 5-10
12 Brandi Benner, So., 5-4
15 Kirsten Salminen, Jr., 5-7
20 44 Jessi Roberts, So., 6-0
22 Shelbie Miller, Jr., 5-7
23 Leah Korthuis, Fr., 5-5
23 Alexis Whiteis, Fr., 5-4
24 Brittnee Gwinner, Jr., 5-10
25 Emily Webb, So., 5-9
32 Becki Lindquist, Jr., 5-7
33 Hannah Swanson, So., 5-7
Leading Scorers: Brandi Benner, 11.9; Jessi Roberts, 11.8
Coach: Marcy Hershey
Prosser Mustangs
Yakima Valley, 19-4
3 Kelli Wilson, Fr., 5-3
4 Sarah Concienne, Jr., 5-5
5 Jordan Brown, Jr., 5-7
10 Lacie French, So., 5-10
11 Dannan Van Klinken, Sr., 5-5
12 Claire Raap, Sr., 5-11
13 Cally Mercer, Jr., 5-9
20 Rachel Anderson, Fr., 5-11
21 Denise Gonzalez, Sr., 6-0
22 Molly Field, Jr., 5-8
25 Nanci Cornwell, Jr., 5-8
32 Michelle Dorsett, Sr., 5-7
Leading Scorers: Claire Raap, 17.2; Jordan Brown, 16.4
Coach: Daron Santo
Ridgefield Spudders
Southwest, 17-5
4 Ellen Zavalney, Sr., 5-0
5 Lauren Landerholm, So., 5-9
11 Megan Karas, Sr., 5-5
12 Sara Backstrom, Jr., 5-7
20 Nicole Hughes, Jr., 5-10
21 Anne Warder, So., 5-9
21 Lauren Hefflin, Sr., 6-1
22 Corijo Young, Jr., 5-6
30 Anna Pengra, So., 5-9
32 Mallory Kramer, Jr., 5-10
42 Nichole Kates, Fr., 5-8
45 Farrine Scott, So., 5-8
45 Farrine Scott, So., 5-8
Leading Scorer: Lauren Hefflin, 18.6
Coach: Joe Potter
River Ridge Hawks
Southwest, 21-2
11 Samantha Penley, Fr., 5-6
12 Sophie Russell, Sr., 5-10
14 Keshia Walton, So., 5-6
15 Keisha McDonald, Jr., 5-6
20 10 Angela Salvador, So., 5-4
23 22 Samantha Cobb, Jr., 5-10
24 Courtney Blume, Jr., 5-10
25 Essence Stedman, So., 5-8
30 Santia Sanders, Sr., 5-8
33 Krystal Smith, Sr., 5-10
43 Marlette Evans, Jr., 5-8
44 Janay Creamer, Fr., 5-8
Leading Scorers: Sophie Russell, 14.4; Courtney Blume, 11.4
Coach: Kevin Estes
Sehome Mariners
Northwest, 18-6
4 Lindsay Johnson, Fr., 5-7
10 Marie Smith, Sr., 5-10
11 Zoey Greenberg, Fr., 6-0
12 Jackie Zender, Jr., 5-7
13 Lauren Gustafson, Jr., 5-7
21 Madisyn Leenstra, So., 6-0
22 Brittany Alexander, Sr., 5-9
23 Brittany Todhunter, Jr., 6-0
24 Casey Rohrbacher, Jr., 5-7
30 Brittany Osborn, So., 5-7
32 Kate Bodensteiner, Jr., 5-8
34 Annie Moore, Fr., 5-5
Leading Scorers: Brittany Todhunter, 13.3; Jackie Zender, 11.0
Coach: Ed Wissing
Sequim Wolves
West Central, 12-10
4 Cassie Kearney-Rogers, Jr., 5-5
5 Brittany Gates, Jr., 5-2
11 Justine Textor, Sr., 5-5
14 Laine Briggs Center 11 5-11
20 Sumna Agostine, So., 5-0
21 Lorene McCreary Forward, Jr., 5-9
22 Gabriela Jones, Sr., 5-6
24 Lyndzie Joslin, Jr., 5-4"
30 Sarah Moores, Jr., 5-8
31 Kelsey Langston, Jr., 5-8
32 Yela Mino, So., 5-9
34 Yolanda Chinn, So., 5-5
Leading Scorers: Justine Textor, Yolanda Chinn
Coach: Greg Glasser
Tumwater Thunderbirds
Southwest, 15-7
2 Ashleigh Marquette, Sr., 5-3
10 4 Cami Stoddard, So., 5-7
13 Karlie Marquette, Jr., 5-7
15 Elisa Jones, Jr., 5-8
20 Alison Schweickert, Jr., 5-7
22 Ashley Andrews, Jr., 5-7
23 Morgan Schwegler, Jr., 6-1
25 Masey Schrader, Fr., 5-6
35 Erika Lund, Sr., 5-8
40 12 Megan Herbert, Fr., 5-8
43 Cristin Richards, Jr., 6-1
50 45 Cara Olden, Fr., 6-0
Leading Scorers: Morgan Schwegler, 13.5; Ashley Andrews, 12.0
Coach: Nick Greenwell
Click Here for Official 2A Bracket
Click Here for More 3A & 2A Coverage
Click Here for State 4A Coverage
Discuss This on Our Message Board:
Click Here
Glenn Nelson is the publisher of HoopGurlz.com and the editor-in-chief of Scout Media (www.Scout.com), an online sports network and magazine-publishing company and subsidiary of Fox Interactive Media. Glenn also founded and
coached the Dragons and Northwest HoopGurlz select girl-s basketball teams. He previously was a longtime, national-award-winning basketball columnist and writer for The
Seattle Times. His work also has appeared in several national magazines and books. He is co-author of "Rising Stars: The Ten Best Players in the NBA" (Rosen Publishing,
2002). He can be reached at hoopgurlz@comcast.net.
|