Document text
Photo from Mail Tribune files Ashlee Giles did it all for the Tornado. North's Giles named player of year By GREG STILES You win basketball games by outscoring opponents. Part of that premise is based on scoring in rapid-fire intervals. The other part is the ability to disrupt the other team's offensive capability. North Medford's Ashlee Giles can score points, sometimes quickly. But what made the senior wing a unanimous choice among Southern Oregon Conference girls coaches as player of the year was her ferocious defense. "She's truly a complete basketball player," North Medford coach Mike Kay says. "She's not a kid who's going to average 25 or 30 points. But people recognized her work on defense." Giles averaged 13.3 points, eight rebounds, 8.8 steals, 3.9 assists and 1.9 turnovers in leading the Black Tornado to a share of the SOC championship with the Ashland Grizzlies. "She works harder than any kid I've ever had," Kay says. "But she looks so smooth because of her athletic ability. For me to run the 400 looks like work. For her to run the 400 is like a walk in the park; she's so fluid playing the game." Giles was joined on the first team by Ashland's Jenny Pippa, Jackie Woods and Chelsea Morgan, North Medford's Lu Crenshaw and Crater's Emily Wiley. Ashland coach Heather Roberts was named coach of the year for the second time in three years. Giles, who signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Portland next fall, was an afterthought when the all-start balloting was conducted last year and was relegated to third team on the all-star list. "Last year, I'd give the ball to (Ericka Brosterhous and Dolinda Meeker) and then hang out," says Giles, downplaying her role. "I'm not aware what's going on while I'm on the court," Giles says. "I really don't remember when I score, how many I scored or the steals. "I thought I went out there and did what I could do and always play hard. It's hard to go out there when you know people have expectations for you. But I think when somebody does that, I think that's when you stand out." Ashland's three first-team picks and Hanna Seltzer's second-team selection is a high-water mark for the Grizzlies. "I think kids make you coach of the year," Roberts says. "I'm really glad they choose me, but I consider it a team honor. If we hadn't done well, none of us would've gotten these rewards." SOC all-stars First Team Player, School Class, Pos. Ashlee Giles, North Medford Sr., wing Jenny Pippa, Ashland Jr., guard Jackie Woods, Ashland So., post Lu Crenshaw, North Medford Sr., wing Chelsea Morgan, Ashland Jr., post Emily Wiley, Crater Sr., post Second Team Player, School Class, Pos. Sam Gilbert, Klamath So., wing Hanna Seltzer, Ashland So., wing Dusty Damon, Eagle Point Jr., wing Jordan Crossfield, Roseburg Sr., guard Jodi McLeod, Crater So., post PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Ashlee Giles, North Medford Third Team Player, School Class, Pos. Kaci Williams, Grants Pass Jr., wing Becci Randall, Roseburg Sr., post Pam Frei, Klamath Union Sr., post Lynn Wooton, South Medford Jr., post Kellie Thomas, South Medford So., wing Crystal Stephens, Roseburg Sr., post Honorable Mention Tressa Manwaring, Jr., North Medford; Amy Denson, Fr., Klamath Union; Sarah Yager, Fr., Crater; Sarah Dvison, So, Klamath Union; Jenny Close, Sr., North Medford; Emily Perttu, So., South Medford; Alicia Pilcher, So., Grants Pass; Heather Fossen, So., South Medford; Megan Robbins, Sr., Crater; Lindsay Johnson, Sr., Roseburg. COACH OF THE YEAR -- Heather Roberts, Ashland Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.