The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/55928
February 17, 2012 Sports 7 JV Girls suffer first league loss Team maintains top spot in league standings Brittany Villa Staff Writer The Junior Varsity Girl's Basketball Team continues number one in league. Tonight, they play an away game against the Oroville Tigers. The girls approach their upcoming game with confidence. "We are going to slaughter them," said Sarah Jordan, sophomore. The team hopes to continue its amazing record, with only one loss in pre-season and one loss in league, with this game. Though, they seem to have little worries about the outcome of tonight's match. The Junior Varsity Girl's Basketball Team gets along exceedingly well, which allows for great team chemistry. The girls love the sport and have fun playing it alongside one another. "We are all like best friends," said Brittany Clatty, sophomore. Not only do the players mesh well Egan Meagher/BLUFFER JV player Hannah Woodall goes for a lay-up in a drill during a practice while two other players finish the same drill. with each other, they have a good relationship with their coaches as well. "We love them. They are more than coaches- they are friends," said Calisha Cruise, sophomore. Like all teams, this one has many strengths that increase their playing ability and some weaknesses to improve on. Just to name a few of the team's strong points, they have a really solid defense, a lot of speed, and are all very good shooters, according to Cruise, Clatty, and Jordan. Some of the areas that need work are communication, passes and turnovers. It is obvious by the outstanding number of wins they currently hold, though, that the team's strengths outweigh its weaknesses. As for the turn out of the season so far, the girls are proud of their successes. "I'm very happy with the way we have played," said Clatty. Though their Junior Varisty year has been a great one, the team still plans to work hard and end the season strong. "We have met a lot of our goals and we are still striving to meet more goals," said Cruise. As the end of the season nears, the girls continue to play hard and dedicate all of their time and effort to the sport in hopes of finishing strong. They have confidence in their abilities to do so. "We can do it because we kick butt." Said Jordan. JV boys fight to keep winning record Rebecca Blanchard Staff Writer The Junior Varsity boys basketball team has a little over one week left. Their last game is Tuesday, February 28 against Oroville who they have played before and won by seven points. According to Coach Michael, it has been a good season so far and the team continues to get better, [they're] still improving. The team has placed a lot of emphasis on teamwork. A skill the team highlights is that they play hard on defense and can play stretches of a game and shutdown the opponent said Coach Michael. "My favorite thing is the team camaraderie, it is a bunch of guys coming together," said sophomore Mathew Southwick, guard. The team focuses on teamwork. Both Southwick and Fox said their favorite game was against Las Plumas. For Garrett Ward however, it was the first time [they] played west valley at the Anderson Championships, [they] beat them by one point. According to Mathew Fox, the teams' weakness is the lack of height. Southwick agrees. "Everybody gets along, but we have no height," said Southwick Since the season began, the team has grown as a team and [they] trust each other more than they did at the beginning of the season said Fox. The Spartans are "Going good" and "playing hard." The team has "grown as people and are much different" said Michael. The players each have a supporter, for Mathew Fox it is his teammates. The support from his fans and teammates keep him going. "Everybody is my support, my family, the fans, and my teammates. The teammates are a big one," said Southwick. Players also get nervous before games, for Mathew Southwick, shooting helps. For Mathew Fox, it is the confidence his team has in him. Garrett ward, sophomore on guard as well, has been playing most of his life and feels like the team has come a long way this year. The JV boys have a large team atmosphere, and it shows on the court according to Matthew Fox. "We work well together and we are all friends, we support each other on and off the court," said Ward, "We have pretty good chemistry on the court." The last game this season will be the 21st against Oroville. It will be a home game at six o'clock. Varsity Boys come off a strong win against Eagles Laura Defonte Staff Writer Red Bluff Varsity boys improved to 10-13 on the season and with a 5-5 league record an Eastern Athletic League- South title is in reach with two games to play. Red Bluff coach Stan Twitchell said a pair of comeback road victories over Lassen and Paradise has instilled a new level of confidence within his Spartans. Like Red Bluff has done so many times recently, the defense came out of the locker room on a mission. They also once again stepped it up in the second half and the Spartans had a 53-37 win, last Friday night, over visiting West Valley. Red Bluff outscored the Eagles 16-5 in the third quarter and saw their lead keep the points rolling in. The Eagles also committed nine fouls in the third, including a technical on their coach. The Spartans had a strong game rebounding against the Eagles, led by Jonah McInnis who pulled down 11 rebounds to go along with seven points. Connor Ross made two 3- pointers for Red Bluff. Lucas Burns also had six points. Taylor Blaser had five points and Garrett Sandow and Evan Sinclair each finished with four points. The season is going well for the Spartans. "We are finally coming together as a team." says Mitch Robison, Senior. Many of the seniors on the team are realizing this is their last year to be on Red Bluff's varsity basketball team, So they are planning to make the most of it and to bring more wins. Their next game is tonight in Orovilee against Las Plumas They have one more game before playoffs and hope to end the regular season with more wins. V. girls have chance to take first Josiah Vasey Staff Writer The girls' Varsity basketball team really suffered last year. They only won five of their nineteen games, and they were dead last in league. It was one of their very worst years of all time. But this year, the girls were determined to turn the program around. After weeks of hard work, the Red Bluff High School Girls' Varsity basketball team is on a five win streak, have a record of thirteen wins to nine losses, and are currently first in league. This is a huge turnaround from last year's performance. Kathy Brandt is the coach of the girls' varsity team. She doesn't have much to say about tactics, except that they have a focus on man to man defense. She says the girls have been very motivated to turn around the program. "They wanted to turn around the record," she said. And the girls certainly succeeded. Lily Brose is a player on the team and is excited about the teams new record and standings in the league. Lily came up with the unofficial team moto, "Adapt, conform, succeed," Alana Hinkston is another player on the team. She thinks it is their attitude that is winning them the games. "We prepare, go in with confidence, and trust in our team," said Hinkston. The players are also enjoying the coach this year. Alana said, "She believes in us," and Lily said, "She is very knowledgeable." They both enjoy being guided by Mrs. Brandt. The team is getting ready for the possibility of going to playoffs, and the players are excited. "We have a winning record and a chance to get a league title," said Lily. Getting first place in league is seeming to be a very real possibility. It would be a really exciting day for Red Bluff High School if the team were to be first in league. The varsity girls team is quaranteed a game in the play- offs but their final record will affect their seed level and who they go up against. Spartans Egan Meagher/BLUFFER Alex Lapenson (12) "Jonah because he has the "swag" walk." Eden Bline (11) "Connor Ross because heʼs the only reason I go to the games." Jordan Johnson (10) "Jonah because of the way he carries himself." Savannah Sutliff(9) "Alana Hinkston because of the skit she did for homecoming." S partan ound off Which Red Bluff High School Basketball Varsity player has the most swag and Why? Rachel Ward runs a drill in practice Ms. Carter(Teacher) Player of the issue -Corrine Schatz -Varsity Baketball; Post "I strive for self-improvement which pushes me to do my best everytime I step on the court,"-Corrine Schatz *Players are chosen by their teammates and coaches. Mr. Sinclair (Teacher) "Taylor Blaser with his fauxhawk." Sound Off/Payton Cumpton "Corrine Schatz because she plays with a lot of confidence."