Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Page A-3
IV Boys and Girls Club basketball season ends
By
Tristan Stocker
IVN Contributing Writer
The Illinois Valley Boys and Girls Club basketball team
has already had one of its best seasons ever.
Previous to this season, the team was on a five-year losing
streak, not having won a single game in all five seasons; however,
equipped with new Head Coach Tom McLanahan, the second-
and third-grade boys have earned themselves a 5-2 record.
With one last game of the season, an away game which is
set to take place Wednesday, March 13 at Redwood Elementary
School in Grants Pass, the boys hope to bring home one last
victory before calling it quits.
Despite the fact the basketball team consists of only boys,
the Boys and Girls Club openly accepts girls to participate in all
sports offered by the club.
“Last year, we had a girl play flag football,” McLanahan
said.
One benefit of having the Boys and Girls Club in the Illinois
Valley is that there are grants available to the kids.
“A lot of times there’s a waiting list and fees, but all of these
kids get to play and they play the sports for free,” McLanahan
said.
The Boys and Girls Club also offers opportunities for
students to earn scholarships.
This year, Illinois Valley Robert Lowden was named Youth
of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley. On
Wednesday, April 3, Lowden will advance to compete at the state
Youth of the Year competition in Portland.
State winners receive a $1,000 scholarship and advance
to compete at the regional level, wherein five winners will win
$10,000 scholarships. The regional champions then advance to
compete nationally, wherein the winner will be awarded up to
an additional $50,000 in scholarships and be recognized by the
President of the United States.
The Illinois Valley branch of the Boys and Girls Club
meets at Evergreen Elementary School on regular school days.
Parents interested in membership for their children should visit
the school between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Lady Cougars softball team to start season
By
Tristan Stocker
IVN Contributing Writer
Another season of softball is just around
the curve for the young athletes of Illinois
Valley High School.
Returning with a record of 4-15 from last
year, Head Coach Rick Dees has hope that the
girls can do a little better.
“We’ve got higher numbers this year, but
we’re still a fairly young team,” Dees said.
“We’ve got only one senior, five or six juniors
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and the rest are sophomores and freshmen.”
The girls struggled throughout most of
last year, but towards the end of the season they
managed to beat Cascade Christian, the number
one ranked team in the league. They also took
down Lakeview, which was another highly
ranked team at the time.
“The kids played and I watched them get
better,” Dees said. “They accumulated skill
throughout the season, but when they started
playing well, we didn’t have enough wins to
make it to the playoffs.”
Dees feels that the girls can do well this
year if they can find a solid pitcher.
“For us to be successful this year we’ll
have to field and bat well because we don’t
have a pitcher,” Dees said. “We’ve got a couple
girls working on it though.”
Last season’s pitcher, Thea Barker, has
since graduated and earned herself a softball
scholarship to play and study at Southwestern
Oregon Community College.
Coach Dees, a long-time Illinois Valley
resident, has been playing and
coaching softball since the
70s.
When asked why he chose softball, he
replied, “I didn’t choose it, it chose me. Dickie
Johnson from Cave Junction formed a Cave
Junction team in the 70s and we went to play in
Grants Pass.”
Dees has also umpired a lot of softball and
has been coaching basketball even longer.
The Lady Cougar softball team just
recently started practices and their first game is
slated for Thursday, March 14, in Ashland.
Thank-You
The Illinois Valley Family Coalition would like to thank the community members who
attended the 7th annual fund raising dinner event held in January. Also, a very big thank-you
goes out to the following contributors:
ENTERTAINERS
New IV String Band
Monet Talty
Judah Robinson
Victoria Prince
Jennie May Donnell
Andrea King
Maelagh Baker
Tim Wallace
Michelle LeComte
Dawna Crocker
Levi Johnson
Alan Chau
541-592-2200
131 N. Redwood Hwy
MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS
BOARD MEMBERS
Great Cats World Park
AND HELPERS
Out-n-About
College Dreams Students
Mill Casino, North Bend
Alyce & Doug Kendall
Wildlife Safari, Winston
John Meengs
Chateau at the Oregon Caves
Michael Yanase
Daves Outdoor Power Equipment
Cathy Taylor
Randy Hieller
Lynn
& Bryan Mavity
7 Feathers Casino Resort, Canyonville
Connie
& Mark Dillinger
Doreen & Marvin Stephens
Hazel
Griffith
Hampton’s Rock Shop
Gail
Stone
Spirit Mountain Casino Resort, Grand Ronde
Yanase Jewelers
Stacy Yanase
Ruth Wendover
Monet Talty
Connie & Mark Dillinger
Roger Brandt
Cathy Taylor
Karen Yanase
Jeff & Carol Ronan
Donna Thompson
Patty Reeges
Jean Shubert
Wild River Brewery
Nathan Williams
Draper Valley Vineyard
Christine Paul
Bridgeview Winery
Foris Vineyard
Calendar
Arts Red
Garter
St Patrick’s
Fun Show
Where the
Valley comes
to play
with
Annwyn and
George
Friday March. 15,
@ 5:30pm
Taylor’s
Karaoke - Dancing
Country Store
Live Music
Saturday March 16,
6 pm
Dale
Hopper
Pool Tourney
Every
Saturday
Cash Prizes
Sportsman
Every Wed Open Mic Night
From 6-8 p.m. with
Jim Nolan
Tavern
Kate’s
Redwood
Bar and Grill
Eat
@
Winter hours
Tuesday to Saturday
Noon to 8 pm
McGrew’s
Stop in and see
Mamie and Kate
Today!
of Course!