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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 2017)
A10 WEDNESDAY November 29, 2017 B ASKETBALL P REVIEWS Young Wallowa girls team up for challenge By Paul Wahl ON THE COURT Wallowa County Chieftain This will be a rebuilding year for the Wallowa High School Cougar girls basketball team with five freshmen, two sophomores, three juniors and one lone senior on the court. Coach Annette Moeller said that’s a bit younger than usual, but the team has height going for it this year. Two players –– sophomore Jamie Johnston and junior Riley Ferré –– top out at 5-9. “We’re excited to have some true forwards this year to give us that advantage on rebounding,” said Moeller, who is in her sixth year coach- ing the team. The team fielded two seniors last year. Moeller said it can be an advantage to have younger players because they’re not 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29 –– Wallowa vs Enterprise in Wallowa Friday, Dec. 1 –– Wallowa competes in the Joseph Basketball Tournament in Joseph. Play continues Saturday. afraid to take shots. “We’ve struggled with confidence when it comes to shooting,” said Moeller, who is a sixth-grade instructor at Wallowa Elementary School. “Younger players aren’t afraid to step up.” Moeller also expects her squad to have speed on the court and points to the team’s history of being hard-workers as harbingers for success. “I’ve coached some of these girls in JV, and they have a lot of heart,” Moeller added. Rounding out the roster this year are senior Josie Scott, juniors Grace Pendarvis and Rylee Goller, sophomore Ash- ley Young and freshmen Ella Moeller, Bailey Hafer, Shanna Rae Tillery, Samantha Wight- man and Austin Post. Moeller is assisted this year by Bill Williams. Wallowa opens its sea- son Wednesday night against Enterprise. “It’s always a good rivalry,” Moeller said. Ella Moeller, Jamie Johnston and Riley Ferré, members of the Wallowa High School girls basketball team, drib- ble their way around the Wallowa High School Gym during practice Nov. 21. Paul Wahl/Chieftain Outlaws boys aim for top of the league By Steve Tool Wallowa County Chieftain Steve Tool/Chieftain Enterprise High School boys basketball coach Larry Wells di- rects his squad in a drill at Quinn Court. With eight seniors on his team, he expects the Outlaws to present a formidable force to the rest of the Wapiti League. Larry Wells, first-year Enterprise High School coach has a seniority problem: It’s not so much of a problem, actually, but his basketball squad has eight seniors. Two weeks of practice has the team looking sharp. They should be, the team lost only two seniors and the remaining four on the 12-man squad are juniors. “We retained most of our power for this year,” Wells said through the echo of dribbling basketballs. “We had a bigger summer program and got a lot of games this year. I think the juniors we have on the team ON THE COURT 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29 –– Enterprise plays at Wallowa Friday, Dec. 1 –– Enterprise plays in the Ione Basketball Bonanza at Ione High School. Play continues Saturday. had a great season as JV.” Compared to last year, this team has more experience and depth under their belts accord- ing to Wells, which should put the squad in the fight for the Wapiti league’s top spot. “We were last in districts last year,” he said. “Given that, we can’t look past anybody, but Grant Union is very strong and Elgin beat us in districts, and that’s a game we want to focus on.” The team’s strength lies in its guards, according to Wells, although he noted he had three outstanding post players along with eight or nine good perim- eter players as well. “I think we’ll be good defensively, but I think we need to focus hard on our man- to-man defense this year,” Wells said. While many of the starters are well-known to fans, Wells pointed to junior Riley Masters as someone to watch. “He’s coming along well, and I have high expectations for him,” Wells said. “I’m also looking for great post play from Brett Greenshields and Brycen Locke.” Wells said fans can expect to see a quick transition offense that gets the ball upcourt in a hurry. “We’re going to cross the line from rat-ball to transition ball and have the discipline to do that,” he said. “You can expect to see some really good defense.” The Outlaws’ first game is against Wallowa on Wednesday. “It’s a game you want to go into and set the tone for the rest of the season,” Wells said. Enterprise girls hope to use strength, speed to reach state playoffs By Steve Tool Wallowa County Chieftain Things are looking bright as the Enter- prise High School girls run through bas- ketball drills at Quinn Court. Coach Mike Crawford is in his 29th year leading the Outlaws girls. The team has been practic- ing for two weeks. The program is popular: Crawford has 24 girls out with a dozen on both the var- sity and junior varsity squads. The team lost four seniors to graduation, but Craw- ford doesn’t look at it as a rebuilding year. “This year, I’ve got five seniors and three juniors,” he said. “We’re pretty much a veteran group with good experi- ence and team speed and very good ath- letes. We’ll be very competitive.” Crawford said he won’t be able to see how the team is different from last year’s squad until he sees them compete, but he’s confident in their abilities. “We don’t have the same size as we did ON THE COURT 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29 –– Enterprise plays at Wallowa Friday, Dec. 1 –– Enterprise plays in the Ione Basketball Bonanza at Ione High School. Play continues Saturday. a year ago,” he said. “I think that we’re every bit as athletic, maybe even more so as a team.” Crawford noted that the team’s strength and speed are the team’s outstanding qualities. “Maybe at this moment our weakness is patience, and we’re going to have to figure out how to have some patience, so we can be as good as we can be,” he said. “Some of those things won’t show them- selves until you get in a game situation. We’ve got three games this week, and we’ll know more.” Crawford said that three-time captain and three-year starter Reece Christman will lead the team this year. “The others are new starters, but they’ve all started some,” he said. “I think that off the bench, Lexie Gassett and Shelby Moncrief will be names to watch.” The coach pointed to John Day as the team to beat in the league as they didn’t lose a single player. He added that most of the league competition is still very tough. “To go to state, we’ve got to finish in the top two,” he said. “I think that’s doable, and that’s our goal.” The Outlaws play their first game at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Wallowa. Enterprise High School girls basketball coach Mike Crawford directs his var- sity squad during practice. Crawford said that the team’s speed and athlet- icism should make up for the loss of four seniors from last year’s squad. Steve Tool/Chieftain SPORTS CALENDAR ENTERPRISE WRESTLING Friday, Dec. 1 –– Kickoff event at Enterprise High School, 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 –– Northeast Oregon Wrestling Club tour- nament at Enterprise High School, 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 –– Dick Griswold Tournament at Potlach (Idaho) High School, 9 a.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL Wednesday, Nov. 29 –– Enterprise plays at Wallowa, 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 –– Enterprise plays in the Ione Basketball Bonanza at Ione High School. Play continues Saturday. BOYS BASKETBALL Wednesday, Nov. 29 –– Enterprise plays at Wallowa, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 –– Enterprise plays in the Ione Basketball Bonanza at Ione High School. Play continues Saturday. Come and see all of the new apparel and accessories for women and babies. JOSEPH WALLOWA GIRLS BASKETBALL Friday, Dec. 1 –– Joseph competes in the Arlington Snow Ball Basketball Tournament at Arlington High School. Play continues Saturday. BOYS BASKETBALL Friday, Dec. 1 –– Joseph competes in the Arlington Snow Ball Basketball Tournament at Arlington High School. Play continues Saturday. GIRLS BASKETBALL Wednesday, Nov. 29 –– Wallowa vs Enter- prise in Wallowa, 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 –– Wallowa competes in the Joseph Basketball Tournament in Joseph. Play continues Saturday. BOYS BASKETBALL Wednesday, Nov. 29 –– Wallowa vs. Enterprise at Wallowa, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 –– Wallowa competes in the Elgin Basketball Tournament in Elgin. Play continues Saturday. 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