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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2004)
6 FEBRUARY 1, 2004 Smoke Signals Lady Bulldogs "Playing Extremely Well" By Ron Karten "We've been playing extremely well," said Lady Bulldogs' Head Coach Jerry Grant. The girls are tied for first in the West Valley League with Dayton, Amity and Westside Christian. As the season winds down, the team is 14-2 with a 7-1 record within the league. The 2A Coaches Poll ranked the team 8th in the state, but big games with Amity and Dayton still lay ahead for the team. With three sets of sisters the Zimbricks, who are Tribal mem bers, the Wilsons and the Chewnings all back from last year, leading the team, Grant said, "We've got great depth. We've got 10 kids that can play and I play them all." Senior Caitlin Zimbrick, playing post, is "having a great year," said her coach. "There are times when she has really carried our team." She is averaging 14 points, 18 rebounds, three steals and four blocks a game. Sophomore Meghan Zimbrick, playing post, is back from an ankle injury and many missed games. "She keeps getting better every game," said Grant, cred iting her with averaging four points and eight re bounds a game. "It takes a while to get the rust off," he said. Junior Shalise Holsclaw, also playing post, "has really been a surprise," said Grant. Averaging eight points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks a game, Grant said, "She does everything for us. It's CD great when we have two good Posts at the same time." Latisia Ayala, a senior guard, is "a fireplug," said Grant. "She comes off the bench and she really sparks our defense. She makes things happen for us. Ayala is averaging five points and four steals a game. Brittni Wilson, a sophomore guard, is usu ally the first person off the bench," said Grant. "A very solid player," she is averaging almost 7 points a game, five rebounds and three steals. "She just comes in and does a great job for us." Breann Wilson, a senior guard, is averag ing three points and three assists, "which is a little disappointing for her," said Grant, "but she does so many other things for us that we don't need her to score a lot of points." Among her assets, said Grant, Wilson "does such a great job of run ning our offense and getting us into our fast break." And Grant "can't say enough" about those Chewning sisters. Crislyn, a senior wing, averages nine points a game, six steals and five rebounds. "Both she and Caitlyn anticipate so well," said Grant. "They get their hands on so many basket balls that they cause problems for the other team. Caitlyn, a junior wing, is averaging seven points, four steals and six rebounds. Nice Pass Tribal memberJanelLara,44, passes the ball to teammate Letisia Ayala during a game with the Gaston Greyhounds on January 20. The team has had an "incredible number of steals" this year, said Grant. In one game, the Lady Dawgs stole the ball 40 times; in another, 33. "We love to pressure teams defensively and offen sively," said Grant. "That pressure does amazing things to teams." Grant said that the team "has a real good shot at the championship, but it's going to be a dogfight." rz V ry 7o L. dS Mr' Tough Defense Up and coming Junior Varsity guard Brandi Shell eyes her opponent during the game, which the Lady Dawgs won. C f7 Photos by Peta Tinda X"-r",-"""y . . r s-A ' K - Vr-- . 1 A I- 7 J Team Summit Head Coach Jerry Grant discusses strategy with the first place Willamina girls basketball team. rw , ir . , ,,, ? JW ft f ' " : , - I J 1 fc-rj77. a I I i !t I! kk; , 11 I ' ' EU ":i L , iA i 1 v i... lJ . . ' a 1 1 In Traffic Tribal member Caitlin Zimbrick 14, goes up for a shot over the head of Sara Steele of Gaston. The 6 foot 1 inch Zimbrick is having a great year averaging 1 4 points, 1 8 rebounds, three steals and four blocks a game. f
