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| Published March 2, 2004 :: Home |
New Kids on the Block
Archbishop Murphy and University
Prep are making
By
SCOTT SANDSBERRY University Prep coach Glenn Turner, in his second year with the Pumas, has forged a solid team, with a 21-3 record, a No. 10 state ranking (according to The Seattle Times) and a district-tournament victory over No. 9 Life Christian, a state-tourney regular. "One thing I'm committed to is developing skills and confidence," says Turner, who in the spring and summer runs a basketball program called YES (Youth, Education and Sports). "They've come a long way. We pay a lot of attention to getting the kids to be well-rounded players." The Pumas' best player is 6-foot-7 Ian McCormick, who's averaging 14.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists and has generated some interest from Northwest colleges. Archbishop Murphy, meanwhile, is loaded with players who played on either of AM's two fall-season state championship teams (football and soccer). "That has to help, I think," AM coach Jerry Zander says of his senior-dominated team. "Especially since we've been so inexperienced in postseason in terms of basketball, but they've been in big-game situations in those other sports." Wildcats center Wes Taylor earned Northwest League MVP honors. A center listed at 6-4 -- "and that's probably stretching him a little bit," Zander says -- Taylor is both tough and athletic. An all-state linebacker on the football team, Taylor has managed to outplay taller posts with footwork that, Zander says, "is just amazing." LAYTON, PART TWO: It would be hard to forget Toledo star Beth Layton, who in her 2002 state-tourney MVP performance led the tournament in both scoring (27.5) and assists (5.0). So seeing another gifted Layton at point guard for the Indians might create some discomfort for Toledo's opponents this week. Amy -- younger sister of Beth, who is starring at St. Martin's these days after a one-year stint at Division I Texas-San Antonio -- brings a lofty 20.2 scoring average to the SunDome. "She's not as good a shooter (as Beth)," says Toledo coach Mike Croy. "She's more of a streaky shooter -- she'll catch on fire and hit two or three in a row. Beth could just take a game over. "Amy can't really do that, but she really plays well in a team concept. She shares the ball better and she rebounds better. Amy's just as much a competitor as Beth, and she'll go down fighting every time." BEAR BAIT: As the No. 6 seed from the Tri-District, Cedar Park Christian (14-10) has the unfortunate circumstance of being the first obstacle between Brewster and the state title many observers are all but ceding to the Bears. The Eagles? They have only three players taller than 6-foot -- and none taller than 6-3 -- and have exactly one state-tournament win under their belts (from the 2002 Class B tournament). But they have a sense of humor. "We're small, we're slow and we're young," says Eagles coach Scott Moe. "Other than that, we're OK." BETTER BEAT 'EM THIS YEAR: That's what teams around the state should be saying about the Napavine girls. Beat 'em now, because you may not have another chance. The Tigers bring a 20-3 record into the 2003 tournament, a feat made even more impressive by the fact that they have no seniors. Not just in the starting lineup, but in the program. They play eight juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen. What they don't have in the lineup, though, is their best player. Junior guard Katie Carns was scoring nearly 18 points a game when she tore her ACL in late January. She's still listed on the state roster because, coach Shane Shutz says, she deserves to be. "She means so much to our program because of the person she is," Shutz says. "She loves basketball, and she loves her teammates. I didn't think it was right to take her off (the roster)." Since her injury, Shutz says, Carns has never missed a practice or a meeting, even though she can't play. Says Shutz, "She's still part of this team. Now her role changes: She becomes an assistant coach."
AROUND THE RIM: At nearly 6-5, Winlock's Cody
Rouse is a monster under the boards, averaging better than 11 rebounds. But
he's also generating some college interest for another talent -- his ability
to pass. He's had games of 15 and 14 assists. "He could play point guard for
somebody," Winlock coach Gary Viggars says of Rouse, who played point guard
on the JV team two years ago. ... Things have been crazy around the Taylor
household in Brewster. Not only is dad Tim coaching son Michael on the
top-ranked 1A team, the family has spent the last two weeks (of what will be
many more) in temporary housing while their own house undergoes a major
remodeling. "It's been kind of crazy," Tim Taylor says. ... Omak's girls
have won the Caribou Trail League sportsmanship award five years in a row.
This year, a basketball official called coach Gary Smith to tell him the
Tigers were "the classiest team I've ever officiated."
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