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North Valley, Henley to vie for conference crown By JOE ZAVALA for the Mail Tribune PHOENIX - It's a long season, and that's just fine as far as Tiffany Ross is concerned. Ross, one of two returning starters on the Phoenix girls basketball team, knows that the Pirates' playoff hopes depend upon the youngsters on the team, several of whom will be asked to handle the ball in crucial situations. They have time - the conference season doesn't begin until January - but they'll have to learn on the job. "I think we have a lot of inexperience," says Ross, a dynamic, 5-10 athlete who led the Phoenix volleyball team to the state playoffs last month. "I think it's kind of a building year for us, and I think we have a lot of raw talent. We just need to put it all together." Phoenix finished third in the preseason coaches poll with 37 points, behind North Valley (45) and defending champion Henley (43). However, if the Pirates get the strong guard play they're looking for, they could make a run at a top-two finish. That's a big 'if,' though, because while the Pirates bring back Ross and 6-1 post Kelly Meredith in the middle, their starting backcourt graduated. That leaves several critical positions open. "I still think our success is going to (depend) on how our guards mature through the season," Phoenix coach Kyle Walker says. "We don't have a guard who's been a starter. "We'll become a better team. I don't know if we'll be a good team right away, but they've got to play." Walker will have several guards to choose from. Shannon Reed and Jennifer Dunlap will probably split the point guard duties, while Jamie Cavener, Kelsey Russell and Kat Cox will also see plenty of action in Walker's three-guard offense. Walker hopes all that depth in the backcourt will translate into an up-tempo offense, which he plans to encourage by dividing the playing time and keeping legs fresh. "We hope to be able to go nine deep without losing too much on the floor," he says. One doesn't have to spend a lot of time watching Phoenix practice to see why Walker wants his team to run. They're quick across the board, and with Ross and Meredith in the post, the Pirates can slow it down whenever they feel like it. "I kind of like to see people going back and forth rather than a slowed down version of the game," Walker says. "So, we'll probably do that at times, but I think at times we'll be able to go ahead and bring it back in and play with a bigger lineup and maybe run some 2-3 and try to control the boards, too. "We have a couple of options this year. It kind of depends on who's on the floor.' While the Pirates have potential, most of the coaches see North Valley as the team to beat. "People are going to be gunning for us," North Valley coach Byron Robertson says. And for good reason. The Knights return 6-3 forward Elaina Renius, a first-team all-conference selection last season and possibly, as a sophomore, the best player in the league, say some coaches. Next to Renius will be 5-11 post Whitney Coston. In the backcourt, the Knights return Malloree Enoch, a senior guard who was a second-team all-conference selection last season. "I think we have some pretty high expectations," Robertson says. "We have quite a few returners from last year's team. I think we should be one of the top three teams from our league competing for the championship." Henley figures to compete for the conference crown as well after winning it with a 13-1 Skyline mark last season. Though the Hornets lost a lot to graduation, they will return one of their big guns, first-team all-conference point guard Katherine Stock. Also returning will be Candice McClung, Nicole Pence and Sam Young. "Those four, they'll kind of be the backbone of what we'll do," Henley coach Ron Smith says. Lakeview (31 points), Mazama (26) and Hidden Valley (25) finished fourth, fifth and sixth the coaches poll, with Rogue River (16) and Illinois Valley (11) bringing up the rear. Both Lakeview and Mazama will open the season under a new head coach. Former Lakeview junior varsity coach Dwan Lawson will take over the Honkers, while Ross Hall, who had a successful career in Wyoming, will be Mazama's new head coach. Hall led Campbell County High School, the largest school in Wyoming, to five state championships and eight championship appearances before resigning two years ago. Campbell County averaged about 90 points per game during Ross' tenure, he says, and had high-scoring games of 127 and 119. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.