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45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, December 13, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 8, 2004 Crater senior post Nicki Tyska (55) goes up for a basket between two Yreka defenders during the third quarter of Tuesday�s nonconference matchup in Central Point. Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman Slow start, fast finish Comets scorch Miners after icy start in home opener By KEVIN GOFF Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — The wintry weather conditions that nearly derailed Yreka’s trip north to the Crater gym somehow made its way onto the court Tuesday night. Yet Crater was able to overcome its early frigid shooting and ratcheted up the defense to force 39 turnovers while snowballing visiting Yreka 58-33 in a nonconference girls basketball game. The defending Southern Oregon Conference champion Comets missed a handful of layups and played a little tight in their first home contest of the season, but finally found the basket nearly five minutes in and rolled to their second win in as many tries. "We missed a lot of easy shots," said Crater coach Scott Dippel, now in his third year guiding the Comets. "I think nerves had a little to do with it. "Once we got into our rhythm defensively, then we started converting." Advertisement Jessica Wasniewski, a 6-foot post, scored 10 of her 12 points to lead Crater in the first half, and sophomore guard Randi Salyer lit up the Miners for 12 points on four 3-pointers over the final 16 minutes to pace the Comets. Crater utilized all 12 players on its bench — 10 of them scored — while physically and mentally wearing down the Miners with the frenetic pace. "This style of play best suits our kids," said Dippel. "They’re getting better and better adjusting to the style of play. I’ve been really proud of the poise they’ve shown." The Miners, despite not having the horses to run with Crater for a full 32 minutes, held their own in the opening stanza by grabbing an 8-0 lead. But once Wasniewski took the lid off the Crater basket with a short jumper at the 3:10 mark, the Comets were able to set up their pressure defense and wreak havoc. "The quickness and tenacity of their press really caused us problems," said Yreka coach Drake Davis. "Once they started hitting their shots and getting into their defense, we just couldn’t keep up." Crater followed Wasniewski’s initial bucket with a string of 16 unanswered points, and took that momentum into the half with a 19-12 advantage. Ratty sparked another Crater offensive burst to open the third quarter with several deflections and hustle plays in the press that led to easy baskets in transition. "She was all over the place," said Dippel of his senior guard. "She was one of the sparks that helped us get going there in the third quarter." Crater scored on its first four possessions of the third period — three off Yreka turnovers — and the lead grew to double digits where it would stay the rest of the way. Nicki Tyska led the Comets on the glass with nine rebounds, and blocked four shots. Sophomore guard Haley Hevern didn’t crack the scoring column but she helped in other ways with five steals and three assists. Fellow sophomore Kenna Reiter also had five steals to go with nine points, and Wasniewski hauled in five rebounds. Jessica Caldwell scored 11 points to lead Yreka. Wasniewski is one of three seniors — Tyska and Ratty are also in their final year — on a team that features a slew of talented sophomores and juniors. "We’re such a tight group," said Wasniewski. "We all get along so well. The team chemistry is so good ... there really isn’t somebody that’s like the head honcho or anything. ." YREKA (33) — Caldwell 11, Wood 8, Hopkins 6, Salters 5, Carrie 3, Brown 0, Bridwell 0, Luetke 0, Jaycox 0, Ramirez 0, White 0, Bussard 0. Totals: 12 7-13 33. CRATER (58) — Wasniewski 12, Salyer 12, Reiter 9, Holderness 6, N. Tyska 6, Stoner 5, Brookins 4, Albright 2, Haas 1, Ratty 1, Hevern 0, Bagdan 0. Totals: 20 14-22 58. Yreka.............................................8 4 11 10 — 33 Crater..........................................12 7 26 13 — 58 3-point goals — Yreka 2 (Carrie 1, Salters 1), Crater 4 (Salyer 4). JV score — Crater 67, Yreka 24. Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities