5
Cottage Grove Girls Basketball
Team Rundown:
While the Lions made it to the first
round of the playoffs last year and
took second in the Sky-Em league,
their biggest accomplishment of the
year was a regular season victory over
Sutherlin. For the Bulldogs, who
went on to win their fourth consecu-
tive state title, it was their first league
play loss since the 2010-11 season.
This year, Cottage Grove is looking
to build off their late-season success
and be able to contend with the best
in the state.
“Well I think that we’re really close
to starting where we left off. Not
quite there yet because we have some
young girls in the program that are
still getting used to what we’re trying
to do. But the girls are working really
hard and that’s a really good sign,”
said head coach Kevin Yoss.
To get to the level they want, the
Lions are going to have to get bet-
ter on the defensive end. Yoss notes
that the effects of losing two starters
from last year’s team will be primarily
felt on that end of the court.
“Last year we relied on our length
and size and didn’t necessarily put
a lot of pressure on the basketball;
we were trying to make them shoot
long shots. This year I think the dif-
ference is going to be we’ll be able
to challenge those long shots and
put more pressure and hopefully get
more turnovers,” said Yoss.
If the team gets to this level, there
is a belief in the program that they
can make a deep run at the state
tournament.
“I would, not only I but the girls,
would be very disappointed if we
didn’t get back to at least as far as we
were last year. And if not further,”
said Yoss.
Team Perspective with
Maria, Keara and Tara:
On how to be successful this season:
Maria Pardee: It’s definitely car-
rying on the winning streak that we
had last year onto this season and
not doubting ourselves and definite-
ly pushing ourselves.
Tara Child: We were more positive
towards the end of the season. And
we want to bring that into this year
instead of starting off negative like
we did last year.
Keara Murphy: I think it’s just like
being positive overall. Like telling
people push through it, we can do
this. I don’t want to say having the
winning mentality but having a posi-
tive mentality overall.
Maria Pardee: Sharing that dedi-
cation and motivation with the rest
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of the team. So they can see how
strong you are and your dedication
to the team so that it goes on to
them as well.
Tara Child: Showing through ac-
tions, definitely a big one. You do it,
the rest of the team is going to do
it too.
Maria Pardee: We didn’t get it until
last year late into the season. Some-
thing definitely clicked.
On what they are looking forward to this
year:
Maria: Just the games. The excite-
ment. And definitely going farther
then the playoffs. Making it to state
and getting in the maybe semifinals
because we know we can make it to
play-ins so we can obviously get past
that.
Keara: I also think that a goal for us
is getting first in league. We can defi-
nitely get first in league this year.
Keeping
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