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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 2017)
10A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017 CONTACT US FOLLOW US facebook.com/ DailyAstorianSports Gary Henley | Sports Reporter ghenley@dailyastorian.com JEWELL WINTER SPORTS PREVIEWS The Daily Astorian Ben Stahly and the Jewell Blue Jays will shoot for more wins in 2017-18. The Daily Astorian Jewell’s Emma Guillen will play a big role in carrying the Lady Jays. Jewell boys basketball Girls to challenge for team aims to improve top three spot in league By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian An 11-game losing streak did not help the final record (5-17) a year ago, but some new additions are giving hope to the Jewell boys basketball program. Enough hope to lead coach Mark Fick to say, “We might be the surprise of the league, if all the pieces fall together. We’re not going to be great, but we’ll be seven deep, with three or four guard-types that we can rotate, and four posts.” THE CASCO Fick is focusing primarily on his team, but follows the league enough to know that “Falls City has a bunch of transfers in, with two or three big kids, so they might be good; and Perrydale and Cross- hill will be tough, because they’re well- coached. Livingstone always likes to run, and they hustle and fire up threes, and fast break any time they can.” THE BLUE JAYS To begin with, Jewell will be a little bigger and stronger. “We’re going to be a little better that way,” Fick said. “Corey Lyon is 6-4 and working hard; Nathan Kane (Sr.) is a stocky kid, pretty versatile, and can play post. He’s also a really strong kid.” Which should give senior Ben Stahly more opportunities to play guard this year. JEWELL BOYS BASKETBALL Coach: Mark Fick, 13th year 2016-17: 5-17 (2-12 league) Key loss: Sean Hinson Key returner: Ben Stahly SCOREBOARD PREP SPORTS SCHEDULE THURSDAY Girls basketball — Warrenton at Nestucca, 6 p.m. Boys basketball — Warrenton at Nestucca, 7:45 p.m. “Ben’s been there forever, he’s the most athletic player, can jump and run, and never runs out of gas. He’s going to play more guard this year. I have some bigger kids, and he’s a better ball handler.” The point guard will likely be sopho- more Ryan Kane, a quick player with a nice jump shot who sees the floor well. Stahly will be the off-guard, Fick said. Senior Thomas Meehan is versatile, and “I can put him anywhere, and he’s solid,” he said. “Jacob Lilley (Jr.) is 6-2, has come light years from where he was, and has really worked hard.” Senior Nathan Nelson has transferred in, “a strong kid, 6-1, big, husky; he will help us,” Fick said. Freshmen on the roster include Eddie Berg and Desmond Chronister. By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian The accomplishments were notable for the Jewell girls basketball program in 2016-17: A tie for third in the Casco League standings, a 14-win season, and the Lady Jays managed to go three games deep into the district playoffs. Not bad, when you’re battling the likes of private schools Crosshill Chris- tian and Willamette Valley Christian, and 1A power Perrydale. Ultimately, Jewell came up short of the state playoffs, but it was a season to build on. As they enter a new season, “I think we’ll be more compet- itive,” said Jewell coach Mark Fick. “We’ve got good num- bers, a little more experience, and the kids are really work- ing hard.” THE CASCO The league “will be about the same,” Fick said. “Perrydale and Cross- hill have some real athletic girls, who are all 5-9 or in that range. Falls City and us will be about the same size. We’re hoping to compete for first and second, and we’ll have a real good shot at third.” THE LADY JAYS “A lot of guards, with four or five who can play post,” is how Fick describes this JEWELL GIRLS BASKETBALL Coach: Mark Fick, 13th year 2016-17: 14-10 (7-5 league) Playoffs: Defeated Falls City, lost to Perry- dale twice in league playoffs. All-league returner: Emma Guillen year’s version of Jewell girls basketball. The go-to players include senior Gabi Morales, a shooting guard; and senior post Emma Guillen. In supporting roles, the Jays have senior Ashley Wammack, a 5-5 for- ward/post; juniors Lilly Kaczenski and guard Sophie Olvera; and sophomores Amber DeWees, Serena Had- dock, Haven Shaw, Nereida Morales and Haley Norman. “Lilly Kaczenski can play post at 5-4, or she can play wing,” Fick said. “She’s worked on her shooting, so she should help with scoring, and she’s active defensively.” Fick, who has 176 career wins at Jew- ell and 222 including his years at Asto- ria, said, “We’ve got 10 or 12 kids who can play minutes. I’m hoping we can be really scrappy on defense, and get the ball up and down the floor on offense.” Other varsity contributors include juniors Dahlia Park, Cheyenne Stapleton and Rebecca Wammack; and freshman Lillie Meier. ‘WE MIGHT BE THE SURPRISE OF THE LEAGUE, IF ALL THE PIECES FALL TOGETHER.’ ‘WE’RE HOPING TO COMPETE FOR FIRST AND SECOND, AND WE’LL HAVE A REAL GOOD SHOT AT THIRD.’ Mark Fick | Jewell’s head boys basketball coach Mark Fick | Jewell’s head girls basketball coach Proud Sponsor of the JEWELL BLUE JAYS U.S. H IGHWAY 26 AT M ILEPOST 18, IN E LSIE 503-755-1818 www.camp18restaurant.com