The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/54666
February 3, 2012 Sports 6 Varsity boys shoot for playoffs Payton Cumpton Staff Writer The Red Bluff Spartans Varsity boys basketball team is still working towards their ultimate goal: the playoffs. Unfortunately, they started off with a couple of their key play- ers on the injured list. Mitch Robinson and Michael Gonza- les were both injured early on. Their last game against Oroville ended in a loss by 6 points; however they are hop- ing to break into some future wins. "We haven't played to full potential but I think we're go- ing to start turning that around and winning games" said Evan Sinclair. At this point they are trying to find their weaknesses and strengths by reviewing game tapes after every game. Nick Reinhardt/Bluffer Garret Sandow taking it to the hoop They also watch other teams play so they can pick up their techniques and weak- nesses. Connor Ross going up for a 3 This has helped to build confidence and curb nervous- ness. "It's a huge jump. The pres- sure is the teams weakness and especially my weakness and it is a big jump from freshman year" said Curtis Twitchell Alpine team slides into Squaw Val- ley, slalom style for second meet KC Jacobsen Staff Writer This upcoming Monday, the Alpine Team will be traveling to Squaw Valley to compete in a race. According to Coach Treat, the skiers will be doing the Giant Slalom, and the snow boarders will be doing the Slalom which is slower, but much more technical. Coach Treat said the Slalom that contains a bigger variety of gates and many more combinations than the Giant Slalom, which is more focused on speed. This season has been very slow and dry. There has been no snow like they had anticipated, according to Ryley Gallagher, Senior. So far, the team has only had one race, in which Gallagher if condensed season." Coach Treat said that the team is focusing on core strength, flexibility, and agility in their dry land practices and they are also practicing race tactics such as setting up columns to run like an actual race course. Zoe Treat, sophomore, Photo Courtesy/Bill Treat Ryley Gallagher skiing at a giant slolam on Shasta took first place in skiing. "We were off to a slow start because the snow didn't come as expected," said Gallagher, "but now that it's here we should have a decent, Wrestling reaches next meet, after extra practice Ryan Fisher Staff Writer The Red Bluff High School varsity wrestling team prepares for an intense duel next week. "Mr. Rottenberg has been getting on us lately", said Varsity wrestler Tucker Gulliford." Mr. Leland and Mr. Miller has helped out a lot this season." Mr. Rottenberg has been making them practice extra hard preparing them for the end of the season. "The guys are hardworking, responsible, and get along with each other," says Rottenberg. The varsity team is at a standing of eight wins and four losses with one meet to go. "Though the success isn't measured on how they do in duels but how they do in tournaments," said Rottenber. With only ten varsity wrestlers and no wrestlers in the top four weight classes, 285, 220, 195, and 180 matches haven't exactly gone their way. "Because it is the end of the season there is really no point into letting anyone else to join the team," said Rottenberg. Next year Rottenberg is looking to have a minimum of 40 wrestlers to make a complete team. "The kids that don't wrestle during the off season aren't as good as ones that do. Champions are made in the off season," said Rottenberg. The varsity wrestling team will have a meet next Thursday at six. This will be senior night. said last Sunday they went up for their first team practice. They split up into three groups; snow boarders, skiers, and beginning snow boarders, and they worked on their technique. Treat said that they practiced keeping their knees bent, turns, and just getting down the hill faster. "The conditioning has been pretty hard, but we all have been helping each other through it," said Treat. For beginner Madeleine Walton, sophomore, Coach Treat gave her a lot of one on one time because she has very little experience with the sport. She focused a lot on the basics such as balancing, and getting the turns down. "I'm new, and I've never snowboarded before so it's a very good opportunity to learn." Said Walton. According to Coach Treat, the beginners on his team have been doing very well. With only two days of actual race training, the beginners did a really good job in Monday's race. "This group of kids is awesome, they're hard workers and they are a lot of fun to be around," Said Coach Treat. #20, "Being on varsity there is a huge crowd and when you play as a freshman there Is no crowd so it helps to play Nick Reinhardt/Bluffer better". During the big games it's hard not to feel the pressure. The team is just that "a team" they have a team lunch before each game. This helps them to get inspired before the game. They also know their posi- tions well. " Our team is pret- ty deep, we work well togeth- er, all of our players can go in and play well at their posi- tions" said Curtis Twitchell. The level of dedication shows in their acceptance of a sophomore on the team. Curtis Twitchell is now on the varsity team. " The team really let me in and we became friends fast and connected well". Tonight the boys Spartan varsity basketball team will be playing Lassen here at 7:30. They will be going toward Varsity girls play at Pinkout Tuesday Laura Defonte Staff Writer The Red Bluff girls varsity basketball team is 9-9 so far this season and are in second place in league. The team of 12 players work well together and always support each other. The positive aspect of the team is that they are a great group of players that enjoy being with and playing with each other. "The season is going great." Says junior Sarah Brown. They have come together as a team and almost won as many games as the two previous years combined (11 over the last two seasons). The one negative is their shooting consistency. "We have grown and improved as a team." says varsity coach their ultimate goal; the play- off's. Kathy Brandt. Alex Dahnke recently suffered from a shoulder injury while she was playing against Oroville. One of their season goals was to have a winning season and so far they are on the right track to do that. The coach always encourages them to play hard for each other and to leave it all out on the floor having no regrets. Their game goals are to try to score 15 points each quarter, have less than 20 turnovers per game and to out rebound their opponents. "Our goals are to finish with 13 wins or more and to be a family with a little luck we will accomplish both!" says Kathy Brandt. The Varsity girls basketball team will be playing against paradise next tuesday for the pinkout.. Nick Reinhardt/Bluffer Tucker Gulliford takes down Oroville wrestler