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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us March 6, 2006 Girls Prep Basketball: Class 4A State Championships Grizzlies call it a (record) season Senior forward’s return from injury, sickness defines team’s success By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings ASHLAND SENIOR FORWARD RHEANA LAIPPLY , RIGHT, fights Tualatin senior post Kristin Hein for position during Saturday night’s third-place game at the OSAA Class 4A state championships. Photos by John Lariviere | For the Tidings PORTLAND — Tualatin’s Kelly Millager glided toward the basket, extending her arm and exposing the ball just before what looked like another easy layup for the running, gunning Timberwolves. Then, it happened. Ashland’s Rheana Laipply, bulky knee brace and all, came out of nowhere to swat the ball out of bounds, drawing one of the loudest ovations of the day from the 100 or so Ashland fans who made the 300-mile trek north for Saturday’s third-place game. The play, which occurred with 1:29 to go, had absolutely no bearing on the final outcome — Tualatin’s press dismantled the Grizzlies’ offense in the 81-49 blowout. But the resounding block provided a perfect bow out for both Laipply and the Grizzlies at the Class 4A girls basketball tournament. “I’m lucky to even be here,” Laipply said afterward. In some ways, her team could say the same thing. Ashland’s senior forward, much like the sixth-ranked Grizzlies, took the long road to the Chiles Center. She contracted mononucleosis during her freshman year and later was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which left her bedridden. After a two-year battle, Laipply beat both and attempted a comeback last season. The return was cut short, however, when she tore the ACL in her left knee. The catastrophic injury ended Laipply’s season, but only served to strengthen her resolve. A year later she was back on the court and on Saturday, her block put an exclamation point on a remarkable comeback. “She worked her entire life and never gave up and has the heart of a soldier,” Ashland senior guard Jamie Roupp said of Laipply. “She’s an amazing person and player and we couldn’t have done anything without her.” Laipply’s journey in some ways parallels that of the entire team. Not much was expected of the Grizzlies at the state level prior to the 2005-06 season, and they did little to change that opinion with an ugly 48-46 loss to North Medford in both teams Southern Oregon Conference-opener. But, slowly, steadily Ashland continued to improve and gain confidence, and its diligence paid off when it mattered most — during the postseason. The Grizzlies finished league play in a three-way tie atop the SOC standings, but beat Roseburg and Grants Pass on back-to-back nights to claim the No. 1 seed. That earned Ashland home court advantage in two playoff games and the Grizzlies took advantage by outlasting both Sheldon and Franklin. Once at the Chiles Center for the final eight-team tournament, Ashland head coach Ken Lathen said the team’s goal was to play all three days. That would require at least one win against the state’s elite. The Grizzlies wasted no time meeting that goal; in the first round against a Lake Oswego team with far more experience against high-level competition, Ashland used a clutch second-half surge to win going away, 48-40. The win meant the Grizzlies could finish no lower than fifth place, cementing the team’s status as the best in program history. Ashland wasn’t thinking about that afterward, however. Riding an all-time confidence high, the Grizzlies had their sights set on top-ranked Southridge, a basketball factory loaded with five Division I recruits. BAILY HASTY, LEFT, RHEANA LAIPPLY, center, and Hannah Sohl , right, enjoy a moment after Saturday’s loss to Tualatin. The game capped the most successful season in Ashland girls basketball history. “Our team loves a challenge and I don’t think we’re a team that’s going to back down from anything,” Roupp said. Ashland didn’t back down, but Southridge looked every bit as impressive as its No. 9 national ranking while running off 19 straight points in the first half. The Skyhawks, who went on to beat Oregon City in the championship game, beat Ashland by 25. The Grizzlies were left discouraged, but hardly devastated. Before their next game — the third-place matchup with second-ranked Tualatin — Roupp and freshman post Brenna Heater broke out into a spontaneous courtside dance, entertaining fans and teammates alike. No, the Grizzlies weren’t going to let a loss ruin their fun. “Overall, it was just the greatest time of my life with these girls,” said Heater, who was the talk of the tournament, averaging 15.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.7 blocks to earn first-team all-tourney honors. “The girls I played with were outstanding, amazing girls. They taught me so much, each one. They taught me things I’ll carry throughout my life.” The Grizzlies were outmatched again versus Tualatin. The Timberwolves pressed from beginning to end, exposing what turned out to be the Grizzlies’ most glaring weakness — a lack of ball handlers. With Roupp, a natural shooting guard, taking on nearly all ball-handling responsibilities the game descended into a series of tipped passes, easy steals and jump balls. Ashland hung with Tualatin early, even taking a 17-15 lead into the second quarter, but the Timberwolves’ pressure eventually wore the Grizzlies down. Ashland finished with a whopping 36 turnovers, far and away its season high. The halftime stats were even more startling: Ashland shot 60 percent in the first two quarters (12-for-20), but still trailed 39-26 thanks to Tualatin’s 22 steals. Afterward, Roupp, a second-team all-tourney selection, and junior guard Hannah Sohl accepted the fifth-place trophy for the Grizzlies (27-5), who smiled for the cameras while posing with the trophy on the gym floor. A short, private team meeting followed. Then, one by one the Grizzlies emerged from their locker room, each receiving a standing ovation from the Ashland crowd as they did. “We had a heck of a run, a heck of a year,” Lathen said. “For me personally, it’s just been a wonderful experience to build relationships with kids that I dearly love. They’re great. The parents are great, the administration’s great. It’s been just a fantastic experience. “Old guys like that.” Sohl recorded the final goodbyes with a camcorder, while players, parents and friends shared hugs. Several Grizzlies had to fight back tears, including Roupp, whose calm leadership in the heat of battle came to define Ashland’s spectacular postseason run. “It was an amazing season and that’s all you can ask for,” she said, wiping her eyes. “No one’s ever going to replace these girls.” Laipply was one of the first players out of the locker room. The resilient role player smiled through most of the fourth quarter. The score was lopsided, but Laipply said in the end it was about more than the wins. She would know. “It’s been the best three months of my life,” she said. “I just love these girls so much, and we had so much fun. We had more fun than anybody else. “It’s been an unbelievable year. It’s just hard to believe that it’s over.” Sports editor Joe Zavala can be reached at 482-3456 ext. 224 or [email protected]. 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