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P/CLOUDY Temp: 43 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Tuesday, April 1, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend March 19, 2003 Cox, Makepeace, Walker head girls hoop all-stars By TIM PYLE Mail Tribune Kat Cox can touch the rim. She — that’s right, she — is 5-foot-11. She’s also the Skyline Conference’s co-player of the year, along with Whittney Makepeace of North Valley, for the girls basketball season recently completed. "She was probably one of the most athletic kids in the conference," says Kyle Walker, Cox’s head coach at Phoenix. "Her ability as a post to handle the ball against the press is unique. Sometimes when she got rebounds, she’d dribble the ball up the court herself to lead the break. "And she may be the only kid I’ve ever had that can touch the rim." In his 14 seasons in charge, Walker has guided more than a few Pirates. But he probably hasn’t done many better coaching jobs than he did this winter, and he has been named Skyline coach of the year for his efforts. Returning senior starters Tiffany Ross, a post, and Jennifer Dunlap, a point guard, decided not to play, and Phoenix got off to a 4-5 start in non-conference play. Undeterred, the Pirates recovered to go 11-3 for second place in the Skyline and then earned the program’s sixth- ever Class 3A state tournament berth by beating Sutherlin in the state playoffs. Phoenix went two-and-out in the tournament but still finished 16-10 overall for the season. Walker, however, doesn’t want too much credit for the Pirates’ success. "It’s because, in all honesty, I feel I had the team of the year," Walker says. "They were underestimated all year. I think they just really wanted to succeed and wouldn’t accept other people not giving them any credit." Cox — whose averages stood at 8.6 points and 9.0 rebounds per game entering the state tournament, where she accumulated 18 points and 21 rebounds in the two losses — wasn’t without help in powering the Pirates. Seniors Kelly Meredith, a 6-1 post, and Kristi Duffell, a 5-10 wing, were named to the all-Skyline third team. Sophomore point guard Ashley McCarty and sophomore reserve post Jaclyn Unruh received honorable mention. Elsewhere, Makepeace impressed conference coaches with her leadership and selfless play in helping North Valley to an 18- 9 overall record and third place in the Skyline. The 5-10 junior produced 14.1 points, six rebounds and nearly three steals per game, despite shifting from wing to point guard midway through the year. "She was leading the league in scoring there for a while," says Knights head coach Byron Robertson, whose squad made the state tournament for the second straight year. "But then we made kind of a mutual decision to have her step into the point guard position and kind of settle us down, since we were having so many turnovers. "It affected her scoring, but it made us a lot better team. ... I think the league coaches recognize someone who’s gonna sacrifice and do all the other things she did." The other first-team all-Skyline selections are: senior post Megan Sutfin of Henley; senior wing/point guard Katherine Stock of Henley; junior post Kim Hamilton of Illinois Valley; and senior point guard Ashley Stewart of Lakeview. Sutfin and Stock were the lone senior starters for the balanced Hornets, who claimed the Skyline title for the second time in three years and finished 19-8 overall. Stock produced 11.2 points and five assists per outing, while Sutfin put up 9.5 points and pulled down 10 rebounds on average. "The key thing is they were parts of a championship team," says Henley head coach Ron Smith, whose team finished 19-8. "They had their roles." The 5-8 Hamilton became a post out of necessity this season for size-impaired Illinois Valley. She led the Cougars, who were 5-18 overall, with 12.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and four steals per contest. "She’s the all-around athlete at IV," says Steve Morton, noting Hamilton’s additional exploits in volleyball and softball. "(The position change) ended up being a wise choice. Her numbers jumped from last year." Stewart sparked Lakeview to a fourth-place finish in the Skyline, accounting for 11.6 points and 4.9 steals per game and shooting 50 percent from 3-point range. "I think she was probably the fastest girl in the conference," says Honkers head coach Dawn Austin. "She was able to take the point guard position and make it a strength for us." Skyline All-Stars FIRST TEAM Player School Year Kat Cox Phoenix Jr Kim Hamilton Illinois Valley Jr Whittney Makepeace North Valley Jr Ashley Stewart Lakeview Sr Katherine Stock Henley Sr Megan Sutfin Henley Sr CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR — Kat Cox, Phoenix, and Whittney Makepeace, North Valley. COACH OF THE YEAR — Kyle Walker, Phoenix. SECOND TEAM Maura Bradbury Lakeview So Stephanie Dean Hidden Valley Jr Shea Ford Hidden Valley Jr Michelle Klaja Henley Sr Krystal Lawrence Mazama Sr Elaina Renius North Valley Jr THIRD TEAM Jill Artoff Rogue River Jr Kristi Duffell Phoenix Sr Daniel Hunter Henley Jr Jenna Kiely Lakeview Jr Kelly Meredith Phoenix Sr HONORABLE MENTION — Heather Olliffe, Henley, Jr; Becky Schwartz, Henley, Sr; Ashley McCarty, Phoenix, So; Jaclyn Unruh, Phoenix, So; Chrislyn Seybold, North Valley, Jr; Shea Miller, North Valley, So; Megan Albertson, Lakeview, Sr; LuEmma Tate, Hidden Valley, Jr; Brenna Tofell, Mazama, Jr; Ivy Fink, Illinois Valley, Sr; Kayla Tocher, Rogue River, So. Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S