The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/49940
Decenber 9, 2011 Sports 7 Basketball prepares for the HC Varsity Boys Shelby Keeler Topics Editor The Red Bluff High Varsity boys team has high expecta- tions not only for the Holiday Classic Tournament, but for league play as well. Winning the league title is a goal that they are working to- wards this season. The team recently placed second in the Jackson High Tournament, losing only to Union Mine. The coaches this season are Head Coach, Stan Twitchell and Assistant Coach, Andy Redfield. "I expect to win every game, I won't accept anything less than perfection," said Mitch Robison. A goal that was agreed upon among players was to come to- gether as a team and become closer as the season goes on. Strengths of the Red Bluff team is their speed and seniors who have a lot of experience. A weakness that they push through is the team's overall size. The 2010/2011 seasons' record for Varsity boys was 5- 8. The teams' toughest compe- ition is Enterprise and Foothill, who are said to be Red Bluff's rivals. According to Robison they plan on playing every game just as intense as any other one. With this intensity another goal of theirs is to hold each opponent under 20. An opponent that is to look High hopes for the slopes out for during Holiday Clas- sic is Helix. In past games the score has always been close. Alaina Rudnick Staff Writer Emily Smalley said, of the new Alpine season ahead, "If we keep pushing ourselves, I think we'll get a better placing as a team (than last year). There's, like, ten more people on the team." "I think we'll be pretty good. The team is almost full this year" said Blake Villa. Of the coaches, Bill and Mary Treat, Danielle Mincer said "They're really nice. They can be tough, but nice." "On an experience basis, we are in better shape than starting last year. This group is a very hardworking and cooperative team." said Coach Bill Treat. "We are bigger as far as numbers. We have six skier girls, 3 skier boys. On the snowboard side we have 8 girls and 3 boys. As we are deep in both girl's sports, I expect us to be in contention for a league championship." To get to their goal the team has been doing dryland practices. Brittany Berg said of the practices the team has had so far. "They're good, but pretty hard." Madeleine Walton said, "Jumping into the work after not doing anything (since last year) is tough." Of what they do in practice Smalley said "Lots of running this year. Just getting prepared and getting ourselves in shape." "We dryland workout three days a week. Our emphasis is on core strength, balance, and course tactics." said Treat. Mincer said "You're competing against yourself, so you can always get better." Smalley made the same point, saying "It's a challenge. You're in competition against yourself." photos courtesy of Bill Treat Lindsey Hubble (above) and Riley Garcia(below) race at an alpine meet. Shelby Keeler/BLUFFER Curtis Twitchell goes for a lay-up at practice When asked about Holiday Classic, Robison said, "I'm ex- cied, (it's) kind of hard to be- lieve it's my last one. And we need to make the most out of it." Varsity Girls Bailey Patchen Staff Writer The 2011/2012 girls varsity basketball season is underway with high hopes and expectations for the new season and for their next tournament, Holiday Classic. For the girls teams, Holiday Classic starts on Dec 15 and for the boys teams it starts on Dec 16. "My expectation is to have a winning season," said junior Taylor Wood, who plays wing. The girls have been doing a lot to prepare for Holiday Classic. They have been doing more conditioning, reviewing offense Egan Meagher/BLUFFER Rachel Ward runs a warm-up at practice. plays and defense techniques, and the girls' bond. "I think our bond is great and we will have a lot of fun this year," said junior Rachel Ward, point ward or wing for the varsity team. Their two coaches, Kathy Brandt and Angie Miller, have been working very well with the girl's making sure they are ready and well prepared for Holiday Classic and the many games that are about to come. Brandt and Miller's excitement for the game has made the girls excited, as well, for the new season. "They are very motivating, smart about the game, teach and explain things well, and are really excited for this year," said Ward. "They are very encouraging and they are making sure that we have the skills to take on different teams," said Jones. The excitement of their coaches has the girls excited for the Holiday Classic tournament and they are ready to take on each team they have to face at the tournament with 100 percent effort. JV/Frosh girls basketball both sweep tournament at Paradise High School Nick Reinhardt Insert Editor basketball teams swept last weekend's tournament This year's frosh and Jv in Paradise. The frosh team played against West Valley 49-20, Corning 62-21, and Paradise 50-12 placing first in the tournament. "We expected to win," said freshman Head Coach John Wheeler. The frosh team will play in a tournament next week. "I feel confident that our team is very good already and our team will progress during the season," said freshman Ashlyn Griffis. The Jv team played against willows 76-11, Durham 73-39, and Paradise 65-15 sweeping the tournament. "They did a good job not lowering their level of play and sometimes that's hard to do," said JV Head coach Wendy Drury. The JV team will be playing next week at a tournament in Willows. Daisy Brose was brought up as a freshman to play in JV because of the level of play she " It's exciting because I can play at a harder level. I also make new friends playing on JV." -Daisy Brose had. "Its Exciting Because I can play at a harder level. I also make new friends playing on JV," said Brose. The JV teams goal for the season is to go undefeated for a second year. The two teams started their season off strong by dominating the court last weekend in Paradise. JV/Fr Boys Basketball starts seasons with a tournament placing Sinclair thinks that the team Marissa Chase Viewpoints Editor The JV and freshmen boys' basketball teams are both working hard in preparation for the new season according to JV coach David Michaels, and freshmen coach Chris Sinclair. Michaels said, "I really like how hard we seem to be working. Hard work overcomes a lot of mistakes early in the season." The JV team started out their season getting first place in a Jackson tournament that both the JV and varsity players attended. The freshmen team took fourth in their first tournament at Shasta. Both teams have a tournament at Chico, Dec. 8, 9, and 10. Sean Freeny, a member on the JV team said, "By then we will be able to improve our offense from where we are at now." Garrett Ward, another member on the JV team, thinks they will also improve on offense and have good intensity. "I think we will do pretty well. We still have to get to know each other since we all came from different schools," said Wyattt Clement, a member on the freshmen team. According to William Macdonald, another member on the freshmen team, they will hold their own in the Chico tournament. has to work on learning each other. Michaels said all areas of the game, like remembering to communicate. Freeny said, "The effort is there, but we need to perform as a team better." Clement thinks that the team has to work on talking to each other, but their strengths are their size and speed. On the JV team, Ward said, "Our strength is we play really well together and we fight for rebounds and loose balls." Michaels said, "They get along very well. It is a lot easier to play when you like the guy next to you." Both the players and coaches have goals for the upcoming season. Sinclair's goal it to have the kids continue to grow as basketball players and to love the sport. Michael's is to get better every day and improve by the end of the season. He doesn't want to get caught up measuring the wins and losses. Macdonald said he wants to win as many games as possible. Clement wants to finish strong. Freeny wants to become a team by the end of the season. Ward said, "To always work hard and keep up our intensity." Along with Michaels as head coach, Patrick Gleason is the assistant coach.