Neah Bay is the team to beat again on the North Olympic Peninsula in Class 1B girls basketball action.
The Red Devils have won the North Olympic League and qualified for state the past four years and are expected to be front runners again. Following is preview capsules of the four girls 1B teams on the Peninsula.
Quilcene (1B)
• Head coach: Joe Whitsett (third year).
• Last year: 2-10 in Sea-Tac League, 5-14 overall; missed playoffs.
• Returning starters: Sarah Bacchus (5-3, Sr.); Tawyna Turley (5-3, Sr.); Leanne Weed (6-0, Sr.); Amy Kaiser (5-4, Sr.); Claire Beukes (5-5, Sr.); Andrea Lara (5-0, Soph.).
• Top newcomers: Kelsey Hughes (5-6, Fr.); Patrice Berringer (5-4, Jr.); Tawyna Orting (5-6, Sr.); Ashlyn Smith (5-0, Sr.); Sophia Knutzen (5-7, Soph.).
• Player to watch: Leanne Weed.
The senior post has been a fixture in the Quilcene program since her freshman year.
• Outlook: The Rangers bring back loads of experience in the starting five.
With all but All-Sea-Tac honorable mention post Kacey Ingalls back in the fold, Quilcene could do some damage this season.
Helping things even more is the fact that the Rangers moved from Class 2B to 1B during the offseason.
Head coach Joe Whitsett sees teamwork, speed, shooting and minimizing turnovers as the keys to the season.
“We are looking to be competitive in every game and make a run at the Sea-Tac ‘B’ playoffs,” Whitsett said.
Neah Bay (1B)
• Head coach: Lisa Halttunen (fifth year).
• Last year: 6-0 in North Olympic League, 23-2 overall; eighth at 1B state (2-2).
• Returning starters: Rebecca Thompson (5-8, Jr., G/F); Courtney Winck (5-11, Jr., G/F); Cherish Moss (5-8, Jr., G/F).
• Top newcomers: Cierra Moss (5-8, Fr., G); Merissa Murner (5-8, Fr., G/F); Crysandra Sones (5-5, Jr., G).
• Player to watch: Rebecca Thompson.
The All-NOL guard averaged 9.3 points and 2.7 assists per game for the Red Devils last season.
• Outlook: Neah Bay has been the class of the North Olympic League since Lisa Halttunen took over the program in 2006.
The Red Devils have won league titles and reached state each season, the last three teams all taking eighth place in Class 1B.
With just three players gone from last year’s squad — although one happens to be 2009-10 NOL MVP Ardis Pullen — there’s reason to believe that success will continue this winter.
Crescent (1B)
• Head coach: Nate Mandeville (first year).
• Last year: 0-6 in North Olympic League, 2-13 overall; missed playoffs.
• Returning starters: Kellie Bellford (5-5, Soph.); Mikela Williams (5-8, Sr.); Sara Moore (5-6, Jr.).
• Top newcomers: Kelsey Ritchie (5-7, Soph.); Tori McGowan (5-9, Soph.); Teya Williams (5-2, Fr.).
• Player to watch: Sara Moore.
The junior captain will play multiple positions for the Loggers, giving them a scoring presence from anywhere on the floor.
• Outlook: The Loggers have long been the doormats of NOL girls basketball.
Now head coach Nate Mandeville, a former Logger point guard and assistant boys coach, will try to turn things around with a new-look squad.
The first-year coach — the Loggers’ fourth in the past three years — will look to employ multiple defenses and a team-based attack on offense.
“We need to change our mindset about how we play the game, apply defensive pressure, play team basketball, and most of all relax and have fun,” Mandeville said.
The Loggers lost their leading scorer from a year ago (Kylie Mitts), but the hope is that void will be spread around this season.
“This team is completely different than last year’s team,” Mandeville said. “We have newcomers who will contribute in a huge way from the beginning.
“We now have the ability to score from multiple players. As long as the girls continue to have fun, play hard and without fear of mistakes, we will be successful.”
Clallam Bay (1B)
• Head coach: Kelly Gregory (ninth year).
• Last year: 3-3 in North Olympic League, 14-6 overall; reached 1B Tri-District tournament.
• Returning starters: Kirsten Erickson (5-6, Sr., F/C); Jaime Parker (5-2, Jr., PG); Melissa Willis (5-9, Jr., F/C).
• Top newcomers: Inga Erickson (5-6, 8th, F/C); Kenna Welever (5-4, 8th, G); Jeddi Herndon (5-2, 8th, G).
• Player to watch: Jazzmin Randal.
The sophomore returner had some big games for the Bruins last year in a supporting role.
• Outlook: The Bruins are in rebuilding mode after losing four key seniors from last year’s team.
That doesn’t mean head coach Kelly Gregory will shoot for anything less than the playoffs.
“That’s our goal, to have a winning season,” Gregory said, “and we always put Neah Bay as kind of our team to shoot for.”
Gregory believes his team has the talent to make that happen. It’s just a matter of players growing into new roles.
“Just building confidence in them is the main thing,” Gregory said. “They had a group of kids that left them that kind of carried them a little bit [with the outgoing seniors].
“But it’s early right now. They’ve been showing some character and they want to win.
“We’re starting out on the right foot [at 2-1 entering Friday’s Taholah game]. I think we’ll have a decent season.”