UMPQUA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Being A Great Player Is An Uphill Battle

2009-07-12T23:14:00.000-07:00

It's a widely accepted theory that great teams are made during the season and great players are made in the off season. If that theory holds true, returning sophomore Mykiea Russell can look forward to an awesome sophomore season. Not only is she competing with and against D1 players in the famous Say No Classic summer league in Los Angeles, but she is also working out under the direction of coach/trainer/author Sue Favor. Their most recent workouts consist of running the sand dunes at Manhattan Beach. Next March when Mykie still has gas in the tank, when her legs and lungs are as strong in the last five minutes as they were in the first five minutes, she's going to look back and know that her uphill sprints in the heat of July has paid off.

Individual Excellence

2009-06-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

Our society, at the present time, seems to have sympathy only for the misfit, the ne'er-do-well, the maladjusted, the criminal, the loser. It is time to stand up for the doer, the achiever, the one who sets out to do something and does it. The one who recognizes the problems and opportunities at hand and deals with them. The one who is constantly looking for more to do. The one who carries the work of the world on his shoulders. The leader. We will never create a good society, much less a great one, until individual excellence is respected and encouraged. Vince Lombardi Jr. in What It Takes To Be #1.

The Secret

2009-06-20T19:59:00.000-07:00

Years ago, long before club, summer, and AAU teams dotted the land, a young boy lived in Westminster, California. One day that boy went to his father and asked him how he could become a basketball player. Without saying a word the father got into the car and of course the boy followed. In silence they drove the three miles to Huntington Beach, where they parked and walked out towards the ocean. Upon reaching the water, the father, who was 6'7", walked out into the surf until the water was up to his waist, and of course the boy followed, but the water came up to his chest. Still, not a word was spoken.

Without warning the father grabbed the boy and pushed him down under the water and held him there until the boy thought he was going to drown. After drinking a huge amount of the Pacific Ocean, the boy was pulled up out of the water and immediately started sputtering, gasping, and gulping for air. 'What are you doing?" he finally screamed. "All I asked you was how to be a basketball player and you almost killed me!"

The father responded by asking, "When I was holding your head under water and you thought you were going to drown, what's the one thing you wanted more than anything else?" "Are you serious? Air! I wanted air!" screamed the boy.

Then the lesson. "When you want to be a basketball player as much as you wanted that one breath of air, you won't need me or anyone else to tell you how to do it."

As the years unfolded, the boy realized that relentless desire not only applied to playing basketball, but also to coaching, winning, getting an education, finding a job, etc.

Thanks Dad! Happy Father's Day!!

Crab Bucket

2009-06-19T11:58:00.000-07:00

Crabbers on the Oregon coast know that if you put one crab in a bucket it will quickly climb out. But put two or more crabs in a bucket and they will stay they forever. Why? Because everytime one crab tries to climb out of the bucket, the other crabs will reach up and pull it back down. Unfortunately, this happens with people too. Many times, as soon as someone begins to separate themselves from the group (usually as a result of much more work and dedication), and sees a little more success or gets a little more attention, others quickly become jealous and offended. Instead of celebrating this success or trying to elevate themselves to reach new heights, these "crabs" choose to react by sulking, criticizing and blaming others. As a result, feelings are hurt and relationships are damaged and much more harm is done than good. But what a lot of "crabs" don't realize is that they all started off in the same bucket and all had the same opportunities to climb out. It's what they do with those opportunities that makes all the difference!

Dr. Jim Kraby - 20 Wins Or Else!

2009-06-03T19:20:00.000-07:00

I was working in my office today when the sound of a familar voice made me get out of my chair and walk out into the hallway where I immediately saw Dr. Jim Kraby, the former President of UCC who hired me several years ago. Dr. Kraby retired eight years ago and even though he is now living in Arizona with his wife Pat, his heart is evidently still in the UCC gym.

We walked back into my office and the first thing Dr. Kraby said to me was, "What happened in the Skagit Valley game? You played so well all year but then couldn't make a shot those first six minutes!" He knew our record, all the players names, important stats, etc. and was truly disappointed that we didn't get that one more win. Dr. Kraby walked straight over to a picture of one of our championship teams, the one where he is standing in the front holding the championship trophy with a big smile on his face, and said, " I have this picture hanging in my house in Arizona!"

I couldn't help but thinking back at the first time we met; when he interviewed me right before he offered me the coaching position that I still have today. "All you have to do to keep your job," Kraby told me, "is to win 20 games a year and make sure your players stay out of trouble!" (Of course I told him that my goals were much higher than just 20 a year.) To this day I still don't know if he was dead serious or not, but every year, on the morning after our 20th win, I would get a call or an email telling me that I could sign another contract and stay on for one more year.

Even though he's been in Arizona for eight years, I STILL get an email each season the morning after our 20th win telling me I deserve to stay on one more year. I'm already looking forward to the next one!!

Heidi Buehler

2009-05-31T14:50:00.000-07:00

Heidi Buehler, UCC's all time leading scorer, left a post on my Facebook wall that's a great reminder as to why I coach. I can't remember our exact won-loss records when Heidi played between 2000-2002 (although I do know we won a LOT of games!) but I do remember the road trips, our talks in the office, the time we spent laughing, and the intensity that she brought to every team practice and individual workout. It's a great feeling to know that you've made a positive difference in someone else's life!

Here's Heidi's post: "Thanks for the B-Day wish. . .I miss you too Dave:) You are a huge reason I am the person I am today. I can't say that I have ever had someone in my life that has pushed me and cared about me as much as you have. I know that I am only ONE out of 100 people you have helped over the years but I must say that UCC was life changing. Thank you. . .I have much LOVE for You."

Seattle University Hall of Fame

2009-05-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

My dad, Richard Stricklin, and I have worked together in one capacity or another for over 20 years. First I was his assistant coach at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, California, then we were co-coaches, then he was my assistant here at Umpqua for several years. And even though he is no longer involved on a daily basis he still scouts, watches game tape, and works with our post players when his time permits. It's been a great partnership over the years!

Last week, "Big Coach" as the players have affectionately called him since 1990 (thanks to Donna Gondringer Jasper), was inducted into Seattle University's Athletic Hall of Fame and quite honestly, it's about time!

Just look at his numbers and how well they have held up over the last 52 years. He played at SU from 1954-57, back when freshmen weren't eligible to play at NCAA schools and long, long before the shot clock and three point line were even considered. Yet despite those disadvantages he is still eighth on Seattle's all-time scoring list with 1,595 points; fourth on their all-time rebounding list with 924 rebounds and second on the SU free throw list as well with 495.
Over the course of his career Big Coach averaged 18.8 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. Kind of makes you wonder what he could have done with an extra season!

As a basketball coach and fan I couldn't be more impressed. As a son, I couldn't be prouder!!

Stanford Cardinal Basketball Examiner: Will Westhead style challenge Stanford women's supremacy?

2009-05-18T07:45:00.001-07:00

UCC's style of offense and Kristi Fallin are mentioned in this Bay Area article:

Stanford Cardinal Basketball Examiner: Will Westhead style challenge Stanford women's supremacy?

Posted using ShareThis

At UCC We Like Being "Abnormal"

2009-05-14T23:37:00.000-07:00

"Winning is not normal and those who constantly win follow an "abnormal" path. The discipline, dedication, and sacrifices are incomprehensible to those thousands standing outside looking in, who are capable of joining he winning team, yet unwilling to pay the price of admission."
(Author Unknown)

The Best Player to EVER Come out of Onahill, Idaho

2009-05-11T23:42:00.000-07:00

is without a doubt UCC sophomore Cassie Scheffelmaier, who after being named 1st Team All NWAACC Southern Region, recently signed a National Letter of Intent and received a full basketball scholarship to Carroll College in Helena, Montana.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/womensbasketball/2009-04-28-3435027022_x.htm

At the beginning of the season I was working on our web page rosters when Cassie walked in to the office, saw what I was doing, and quickly informed me that she wasn't really from Kootenai, Idaho like I had listed. Kootenai was the name of the high school but not the town. When I asked her where she lived Cassie told me that the nearest town was Harrison but they received their mail in Cataldo. "Well, where do you live?" I asked again while laughing. "Just out in the country on a hill." Cassie replied. So I hit the delete button and erased Kootenai from the web page roster and typed in "Onahill" instead. (On a hill) Cassie and I both laughed for a while and then forgot all about it.

Until we played in the Clackamas Thanksgiving Tournament and the starting lineups were announced. "At guard, a 5'8' sophomore from Onahill, Idaho. . .Cassie. . . Scheffelmaier!!" I smiled, Cassie chuckled, and her parents, who made the trip over from Idaho laughed out loud. Then Cassie proceeded to turn in arguably the best single game performance in the history of the NWAACC, not to mention Onahill, Idaho, when she scored 50 points and grabbed 21 rebounds!

After that game every announcer declared that Cassie was from Onahill at all home and away games and not a single person ever caught on to our inside joke. However, one of the coaches recruiting Cassie did mention that their whole staff spent nearly an entire day trying to locate Onahill before finally giving up and deciding to ask us where the heck it was!

I think it's safe to say that there will never be another player like Cassie Sceffelmaier from Onahill, Idaho. Who knows? Maybe next year the roster can list her new home town as Hanna, Montana!!

University of Oregon Announces Signing

2009-05-08T19:20:00.000-07:00

The following article showed up today on the University of Oregon's athletic department web site:
http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4307&SPID=236&ATCLID=3735717&DB_OEM_ID=500

Kristi Fallin Signs at University of Oregon

2009-05-07T20:03:00.000-07:00

When our players are being recruited by four year schools I tell them that there are four factors to consider: location, school, basketball program, and money and they need to decide which of these factors are the most important. Are they willing to take less money in order to go to a good program in an great location? Do they want/need a full scholarship even if it means playing on a lousy team in a bad location? Etc. Etc. Lots of possibilities. Most get two of the four. The lucky ones get three of the four. Kristi Fallin got all four!

On Monday Kristi signed a National Letter of Intent and accepted a full scholarship to play at the University of Oregon, which is only an hour away. She is going to be coached by newly hired Paul Westhead, who besides winning both NBA (LA Lakers) and WNBA (Phoenix Mercury) Championships, runs an offense that wants to get a shot off in the first five seconds of each possession and generates a lot of three pointers at the end of the fast break and sideline break.

Last season the leading three pointer shooter in NCAA Division 1 made 116 threes. Kristi made 118. We play fast but not as fast as Westhead's shoot first ask questions later style of play. Kristi has a chance to be very, very successful in that system.

Follow the links below to read about Kristi's signing on the NWAACC website, in The News-Review, and on Douglas County Sports Online
http://www.nwaacc.org/news.php?id=744

http://www.nrtoday.com/article/20090504/SPORTS/905049921/1012/NONE&parentprofile=1056

http://www.douglascountysportsonline.com/sportsline/kristi-fallin-to-play-basketball-at-oregon.html

Happy Birthday Linda!!!

2009-05-06T23:20:00.000-07:00

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said "My chief want in life is someone who will make me do what I can!" I've always tried to be that "someone" in the lives of our players and have tried to help them reach their goals by raising their level of expectation, by putting them in a position to succeed, by teaching them, by patting them on the back and when necessary, kicking them in the butt. (figuratively, of course!)

That "someone" in my life is my wife Linda. I don't want to be too personal or go into too much detail but I can tell you that Linda completely understands my overwhelming desire to compete and to win and so willingly takes care of a million little things and a few dozen big things so I can do what I do best. She gets little recognition and not enough appreciation and yet without her help and influence neither I, nor Taylor nor our basketball family would be nearly as successful.

Happy Birthday Linda!! I love you!!

National Exposure

2009-04-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

I've always thought that the most important part of my job is to first, prepare the athletes that play for me to move on to the university level and then second, to help them find a place where they can keep playing and continue their education. Often times I spend much more time helping them move on than I spent recruiting them in the first place! It's a lot of extra work and it's work that many coaches at this level aren't willing to do, but for me the payoff is well worth it. Nobody wants to win more than I do, but helping players get opportunities that didn't exist for them coming out of high school makes a much greater impact on their lives than the 28 wins a year that we average!

Anyway so far this year I have been in contact with nearly 50 four year colleges and universities representing 18 states. Those states include Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Missouri, Michigan, Kentucky, Arkansas, New York, North Carolina, and Florida.

With this much national exposure and this many different times zones it seems like I am always on the phone. The result? Once again all of our sophomores (6) are getting basketball scholarships to four year schools!! It's a great time to be a Riverhawk!!

Can't Judge Talent By Appearance

2009-04-22T00:07:00.000-07:00

Still looking for players to reload our team for next year and so when I received an email this morning asking if I had seen the YouTube video of Susan Boyle yet, my first reaction was "What team does she play on?" I was hoping that she was long, tall, and
still unsigned.

When I started to watch the video of "Britain's Got Talent" I saw a middle aged, frumpy woman who looked and acted more like a cartoon character than a legitimate contestant in a talent competition. Evidently many others felt the same way because as Susan Boyle walked out onto the stage and started talking to the judges about her dream of being a professional singer, everyone in the theater reacted with smirks and laughter. Sitting in front of my computer, I laughed out loud too. I was expecting to see a crash and burn type disaster of epic proportion!

But what happened next was simply amazing and I have thought about it all day. If you haven't seen it yet (over 35 million people have watched it so far!) take a couple minutes and watch it here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY (Titi Takai watched it in the basketball office today and said it gave her "chicken skin," which is what Hawaiians call "goosebumps.")

I couldn't help but think how similar this is to some really great basketball players. Many times players are overlooked or underestimated because they don't fit the cookie cutter image that big time athletes are "supposed" to project. They are thought of as too short, too thick, too gangly, or too thin and are initially dismissed because they don't "look" like players. Some of the best players I have ever coached have fit into this category. They might not have necessarily looked the part but when it was time to step up and perform, they were extraordinary!

We are now in the midst of recruiting season and the reminder to look beyond the obvious when judging talent could not have come at a better time! Thank you Susan Boyle - for both the song and the life lesson!!

Thoughts On Championship Game Interviews

2009-04-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

Everyone here at UCC has become big fans of the University of Louisville ever since coaches Jeff Walz and Stephanie Norman flew out to watch us practice a little over a month ago and it was really fun watching them make their run all the way to the National Championship game.

For me it was very interesting watching the post game interviews with both Louisville's Jeff Walz and UCONN's Geno Auriemma. Both coaches talked about how extremely important and absolutely necessary it is for players to work at getting better over the spring and summer if they want to be championship caliber players and teams. They both said that it is the work when no one else is watching that separates the good ones from the great ones. Geno talked about Rene Montgomery starting to work right after the season ended last year and Jeff Walz even mentioned Maryland greats Marissa Coleman and Kristi Tolliver and guaranteed that those two didn't spend any time at the beach last summer.

Their comments made me think of our own players. The vast majority work very hard in the spring when their workouts are organized and observed but the GREAT ones continue those workouts throughout the summer and into early Fall before school starts. There are no guarantees that being that focused and dedicated in their workouts will make a player great, but it is pretty much guaranteed that a player can't become great without that kind of personality and work ethic. Unfortunately, good is the enemy of best - way too many players, as well as people in all walks of life, are satisfied with just being good at what they do, when with some extra work they could become great.

I also realized that on those few occasions when we have "lost" players, it's almost always happened in the Spring right about the time spring workouts start. It might be just a coincidence but we all know it's easier to work when the weather's bad and there's a game right around the corner than it is when the sun is out and next game is over seven months away. Working hard isn't necessarily fun but the motivated players don't mind because they are willing to sacrifice to get better. They know that it's not always what they get by working hard that is important - what's important is what they become!

Wish I Was In St. Louis!

2009-04-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

After watching Michigan State and North Carolina win today in the men's Final Four, I wish I had gone to St. Louis for the women's Final Four. When we beat SWOCC in early January my career win total reached 600 and I received an invitation to be recognized at the National Coach of the Year Luncheon in St. Louis on Monday, April 6th. But to attend the award ceremony, you have to register for the national convention which costs upwards of $300. Add that fee to airfare, hotel, rental car, and food and the total is well over $1000. I was hoping to get some money from UCC to help defray the cost but it didn't work out and that is way too much money for me to spend on myself just so I can get a public pat on the back! It would have been fun though being involved in the same ceremony as Pat Summitt of Tennessee (1000 wins) and Sylvia Hatchell of North Carolina (800 wins). We would've taken a great picture!! I hope they're not too disappointed that I won't be there!!

It's kind of ironic though that the majority of D1 coaches, many who make great salaries, have their Final Four and national convention expenses paid for by their schools, while those of us at much smaller schools with much, much, much, much, much, much smaller salaries have to pay our own way to attend. (That's one "much" for every extra 0 some of them have in their yearly salary!)

I stumbled onto a new blog today that is very interesting and definitely worth reading. Alysa Auriemma, the 23 year old daughter of UCONN's Geno Auriemma, has started a blog called Life in the Postseason and gives some great insight into the daily activities of the UCONN women as they compete in the NCAA Tournament. Hopefully next year she'll decide to do it all season!

Classic Pranks

2009-04-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

Since today is April Fool's Day I thought I'd share a few of the pranks our team has pulled on each other over the years.

Happy Birthday - This one started at the NWAACC Championship banquet years ago when participating coaches were asked to give a brief speech recapping their season. Bill Bachman, former UCC Athletic Director, was in attendance and I ended my short talk by wishing him a happy 63rd birthday even though he was only 50 years old at the time and it wasn't even his birthday. Then I had the entire banquet hall stand up and sing "Happy Birthday" to Bill while he sat their red faced and embarassed. I pulled the same stunt at least a dozen times over the next several years at banquets, restaraunts, faculty gatherings, etc. and it never got old - at least for me!

Never Trust A Sophomore - Not so much a prank but still really funny. Last year sophomore Corynn Jorgensen had freshman Kayla Haines thoroughly convinced that the smaller versions of the Hummer could be driven while completely submerged under water. The gag would have continued longer except that one day Kayla's mom, Brenda, was having lunch with us before a game when Kayla started talking about the car that could drive under water. Brenda got a good laugh out of it too before setting Kayla straight but for weeks afterwards every time someone on the team spotted one of those cars on the road they yelled out Underwater Car.

Let's Sue Subway! This past season Cassandra Tiggett brought a Subway sandwich in to the library to eat while studying with the rest of our team. When she momentarily left the study table, Cassie Scheffelmaier ripped a napkin in half and inserted it into the middle of the sandwich. A few bites later Cassandra started chewing the napkin and was understandably shocked and upset to be eating paper. Almost immediately she picked up her cell phone and called her father, who is an attorney, to explain the situation and to demand that he sue Subway right away. The prank was short lived because by now all the others players were laughing hysterically.

Ding Dong Ditch - Several years ago both the UCC men's and women's teams found ourselves staying at the same hotel in Portland. One of the men's players filled a trash can up with water and tilted it up on one side against his coach's door. With the can in place he then knocked on the door and then ran and hid around the corner while the door was opened. Of course when the door was opened, the can tipped over and practically flooded the doorway of the room. The men's player then suggested that they try the same thing to my door. It only took Lauren Marshall a split second to wisely announce that would not be a good idea!

Squirt Gun Fight - Jakehima Mercier was constantly pulling pranks on teammate/roommate Staci Kleir. One time she put one of Staci's bras on their landlady's dog and let it run through the neighborhood. Another time she set up a "lemonade" type stand in their front yard and tried to sell Staci's underwear. But the best one (also the grossest one) became a team legend. Jakehima took a super soaker water bazooka and filled it with water. Then she took a small water pistol and filled it with her own pee. When both guns were full, Jakehima challenged Staci to a squirt gun fight and in the spirit of good sportsmanship let Staci choose which weapon she wanted to use. Not knowing the small pistol was full of pee, Staci chose the water filled bazooka and the fight was on! Even though Jakehima landed only a few well placed shots, there was no question who won and who lost!

Working Vacation

2009-03-27T23:10:00.000-07:00

I was really hoping/planning on being in Springfield, MA this week watching my son Jeff and his BYUH teammates play for the NCAA DII National Championship, but when they lost at the buzzer in the Regional Finals, plans quickly changed. We loaded up the Yukon and headed south for a week long working vacation, mixing family time and recruiting, and having a great time at both. Stops in Redding, Los Angeles, Desert Hot Springs, Westminster, and now Fresno have kept us going non stop but it's been both fun and productive. It'd be nice to have another week, or at least a few more days, but school and spring workouts start Monday and I'm looking forward to seeing all the girls again!

While standing at the entrance of the Silver Bullett roller coaster at Knott's BerryFarm a lady approached Linda and asked if we were the Umpqua women's basketball coaches. Evidently, she and her family live in a small town outside of Roseburg and have been watching our games for years. I guess it really is a small world after all. (No wait, that's at Disneyland, not Knott's Berry Farm!)

UCC almnae Aubrey (Dickson) Dobrkovsky, one of the program's all time leading scorer and a former Kodak All American sent us a text telling us that she and her husband BJ are expecting their first child next October. Of course I reminded her that David is a great name in case it's boy. If it's a girl I may have a letter of intent sent directly to the hospital. . . .BJ played in college and is now a very successful high school basketball coach and Aubrey was one of the best in the country. . . genes like theirs could help a coach win a few games!!

One Family-Three Great Seasons

2009-03-19T19:18:00.000-07:00

The 2008-2009 basketball season is now officially over for the Stricklin family and I must admit that even though I'm still in mourning, it was a pretty good season for all of us. As UCC followers already know, we finished the season 29-3, averaged 90 points a game and were ranked #1 in the Pacific Northwest from start to finish. My son Brad and his North Eugene HS teammates won their first three playoff games and got to finish out their season at historic Mac Court on the campus of the University of Oregon. My oldest son Jeff, a junior on BYU-Hawaii's team, saw his season come to an end last night when the Seasiders lost at the buzzer and were upset in the NCAA West Regional Final. They had their 25 game winning streak snapped and finished with a 27-2 record.

Jeff's game was on TV last night but didn't start until 10:30pm PST.
It looked like BYUH had the game locked up with about seven minutes to go only to let it slip away at the end. The parent in me was concerned about how disappointed Jeff and his teammates were feeling. (When Jeff finally called after the game he could barely talk and wasn't much better when I called him this afternoon) The coach in me had to completely analyze what happened and so I went over a tape of the game until after 2am. Unfortunately, no matter how many times I watched the tape, the game always ended the same way!!

Coincidentally,I was cleaning out a closet this morning and came across a book by John Maxwell called "Talent Is Never Enough" and I instantly started to think about our three teams and how each one ended the season. You know, although it is definitely a great place to start, talent really isn't enough. Sometimes you need you need a little luck; sometimes you need better decision making from both players and coaches; sometimes you need favorable officiating and sometimes you just need someone to step up and make a play! But because talent isn't always enough, sometimes the best team doesn't win, and that fact can result in some exciting possibilities - unless of course you're the best team! The 2009-2010 season can now officially begin! Let's hope it's another great one for all of us!!

Last Van Ride Of The Season

2009-03-17T22:24:00.000-07:00

It's been an emotional few days around here. As we drove back from playing in the NWAACC All Star Game last Sunday, Kristi Fallin sat in the front seat while Cassandra and Mykie slept on the seats behind us and we talked for hours about how hard she's worked and improved over the last two years and then speculated about what the future holds for all of us. Kristi realized and pointed out that the whole trip was one full of "lasts" - the last time wearing her Umpqua uniform, the last time riding in the van, the last time playing with her Umpqua teammates, the last time listening to Jimmy Buffett off my MP3 player, the last time reminding me to wear my glasses while driving, the last time stopping at the Eugene AM/PM etc. etc. Usually we all hate riding in the van this time of year but this time neither one of us was in a hurry for the trip to end.

I really appreciated Titi (Hawaii), Mykie (California), Cassandra, and Cassie (Idaho) all stopping by the office to say goodbye before heading home for spring break. I know they were busy and also very anxious to get home but they still took the time out to come see me before they left. And then knowing that Linda and I would worry about them while travelling, TiTi, Mykie, and Cassie all let us know as soon as they arrived safely. They're basketball players inside the gym and family the rest of the time!

Follow the link below and check out some action shots of the girls:
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/ThumbPage.aspx?e=4577181&g=03&s=0

29-3 But I Wish We Were Just Starting

2009-03-09T23:09:00.000-07:00

I'm not real sure where to begin. At the NWAACC Championship Tournament we played very well against Bellevue, Lower Columbia, and Clackamas while capturing wins number 27, 28, and 29 but it was an entirely different story in our game against Skagit Valley. I don't want to go into great detail because it still hurts to even think about it, but it's safe to say that a six minute scoring draught undoubtedly cost us a shot at win number 30 and a perfect ending to an already awesome season. On the positive side, I guess it says a lot about our overall program when we can finish 29-3 and still be somewhat disappointed!!

Miranda Holenstein sent me a text telling me that she started crying after it suddenly occurred to her that there was no practice today. She said that the things in practice that she thought she "hated" the most are really the things that she already misses the most. It just seems like we should all be together preparing for the next game but instead we just mentally and physically wandered around. For the first time in weeks I didn't watch game tape today.

I do get to watch some of our players get after it one more time this season: Kristi Fallin, Cassie Scheffelmaier, Miranda Holenstein, TiTi Takai, and Cassandra Tiggett have all been selected to play in the NWAACC Sophomore All Star Game next Sunday at Pierce College in Lakewood, WA. Only once before have five players from the same school made the All Star team and coincidently that was our 2000 Umpqua team. This year our players and the other Southern Region All Stars will take on a team from the Northern Region.

The above picture was taken at the NWAACC championship banquet. I might be a little biased but I thought our girls were the classiest looking team there! Good looking, sharp dressers, and the ability to score 90 points a game. . .what more could we ask for? (Except to win just one more game!)

Playoff Brackets Set - UCC Opens With Bellevue

2009-03-03T23:31:00.000-08:00

The NWAACC Championship Tournament brackets have been set and UCC, the Southern Region champions, opens the tournament with Bellevue CC (Bellevue, WA) at 8pm Thursday, March 5th at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, WA. UCC beat Bellevue 81-77 in the very first game of the season during the opening round of the Yakima Tournament.

The second round of the tournament will match UCC with either Lower Columbia (Longview, WA) or Treasure Valley CC (Ontario, OR).

The entire bracket, complete with game times, can be found at http://nwaacc.org/basketball/Tourneys/2009_NWAACC_WOMENS_BRACKET.pdf

Southern Region Champions!!!

2009-02-27T00:28:00.000-08:00

Last night's 86-80 comeback win against Lane CC ran our record to 26-2 and captured the NWAACC Southern Region Championship. We were down by as many as 16 in the first half but regrouped a little and were only down by 8 at halftime. Lane extended their lead to 14 with 12 minutes to go and then we were finally able to get a string of defensive stops. Kristi Fallin scored 18 points in those last 12 minutes to finish with a season high 37 and Miranda Holenstein, Cassie Scheffelmaier, and Titi Takai all made huge hustle plays down the stretch.

I can't tell you how proud I am of the way the girls pulled out the win. It would have been easy to conclude early on that it just wasn't our night but not a single player eased up and not a single player ever doubted. Everyone filled their role to the very best of their ability and definitely played "for" each other not just "with" each other. When we all went out to eat after the game it was hard for everyone to talk because nearly all of us were hoarse from yelling and cheering. Numerous times in the second half our bench would start waving towels and chanting "Defense!" and then the cheerleaders would chime in and then the crowd got involved and the adrenaline started rushing. Mykiea Russell was on the bench in foul trouble most of the game but I don't think she sat down for more than ten seconds at a time! (When we watched the tape tonight after dinner we had as much fun watching the action on the bench as we did watching the game itself.)

For me the best part of the night came immediately after the game when I was able to hug each of the sophomores and let them know how important they are to me. This was the last home game they will ever play at UCC and they created a memory for themselves and for the rest of us that will last for a long, long, time. They have absolutely no idea just how much I've loved being their coach and how much I am going to miss them when they're gone!!

Louisville Coaches Watch Practice

2009-02-23T00:48:00.000-08:00

It's an exciting time of year if you're a Riverhawk fan!! We won last night at Clackamas to run our overall record to 25-2 and our Southern Region record to 12-1. It's the 19th time in 22 seasons that we've been able to win at least 25 games and I'm confidant we still have a few wins to go! A win next Wednesday would clinch the region championship and give us a number one seed in the playoffs.

University of Louisville Head Coach Jeff Walz and his recruiting coordinator, Stephanie Norman, came to watch us practice tonight and told us they were impressed by how hard everyone played. Normally we take Sundays off but gladly changed our schedule a little when they called and asked if they could fly out and come to practice. Louisville, currently ranked #8 in the country, also won their 25th game of the season by beating Villanova on Saturday and it was an honor to have Coach Walz and Coach Norman come watch and evaluate us.