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March 20, 2008
Ok, so back to back state championships finally accomplished. It was not easy this year. I have come
to realize that it is easier to win your first state title than it is to maintain it. It is also tough to beat a good
team three times in a year. There is no doubt we were very talented this year. To reflect upon our season, we
were disappointed in our showing at the Nike TOC but we did achieve our 3 goals. Every day, every game, we wrote down
our 3 goals. League Champions, District Champions, and State Champions. We wanted to compete with the best of the best
in the nation and become a national ranked team all season. We finished top 25 in the nation in most polls, which is
a huge accomplishment. In the end, there is nothing like winning a state championship. It is one of the greatest
feelings in high school sports.
This senior class has been amazing. I don't like to even think
about them not being here next year. We already miss them and we see them every day. At the same time we are very
excited with the JV kids we have coming up. They went 17-3 on the season with the 3 losses coming to varsity teams down
at the Nike TOC. Coach Gary Wilson was the best thing that could have happend to this program this year. He took
over our JV program and has given that program a name where kids can finally start feeding into the varsity program.
His knowledge and passion for the game was contagious to our entire staff. The players learned to adapt to his style
and are finally ready to take that next step.
For now, we continue to be grateful to the support we have been given
this entire season. We would not win back to back state titles if we did not have the support that we do.
We are gearing up for a solid off-season in the spring. Our kids will be working hard with weights and agility
while getting to open gyms as often as they can. Summer is approaching in about 11 weeks and we look forward to
getting out and playing summer basketball. Different goals bring different results in the summer. With 5
returning varsity players and 9 new incoming players from our JV's will give us a new look. Stay tuned
as we will give everyone an update of our spring and summer activities.
March
4, 2008
Well, the our run at another state championship begin tomorrow. Today, Tuesday, is our last official
big practice. Our seniors Stephanie Egwuatu, Rachel Givens, Katie Grad, Gina Hagerty, and Randi Raiford have been more
than any coach could expect. It is the largest group of seniors I have ever had. They are not only special to
me, but to this school and community.
Our practices have been tough, long, grueling and it doesn't change
today. Our players are hungery for their last official practice. They know there are 15 teams out there who are
playing for the same thing we are: a State Championship!
During the state tournament draw on Sunday,
we saw Kennedy go to the bottom of the bracket while they placed us, Lakes, Meadowdale, Seattle Prep, and Bainbridge all in
the top half. People question how fair is it to have #2 Lakes play #4 Meadowdale in the first game. It is the
way the draw is set up. It is not easy to create the draw, especially when the boys draw was first and we have to set
our schedule around the boys who may have a girls team also at state (6 teams have both boys and girls teams at state).
As we prepare for Bainbridge, we look forward to competing against a team that is playing well at the right time.
Brittany Gray, a Gonzaga commit, is one of the areas best players. She will be a bear for us to handle at both ends
of the floor. She is averaging 19 points and 12-13 rebounds per game. Emily Farrar, the lone senior
guard, will look to provide leadership and experience as she is putting up 8 points per game and dishing out a couple of assists
per contest. They have other key players who will certainly be a factor: Anna Wood 5'10 Jr Forward , Jesse
Vincent 6'1 Jr Forward,and Kristen Michael 5'8 Jr Guard. All have played a major roll in a team who is
bound and determined to compete in the first game of the state tournament.
We are excited as feel all of the off
season work has paid off in getting 2 of our 3 goals thus far; League Championship (back to back to back '06, '07
'08), District Championship (back to back '07, '08).
We wish the best of luck to all the
teams. May each team play their best, stay healthy, and enjoy the experience!
Feb 25
For the 4th year in a row,
we have qualified for the State Tournament. In our first round game of West Central District, we had to play Capital,
ranked 6th, in a winner to state game. Capital came out and played us tough the first quarter and a half. They
got up on us 21-12 before we finally kicked it in. It was Katie Grad who finished the first half with 10 points in less
than a minute to tie the game at 29. We went to an all guard line up to start the second half and went on a 10-0 run
and a 16-0 run. We outscored Capital 58-18 the second half. Katie Grad finished with 29. Randi Raiford came
off the bench and hit 4 triples.
Katie Grad has just been named to the Seattle Times All-Area team, giving Riverside
it's 3rd consecutive player to receive this honor (Futch '06, Wilber '07).
We play Ft. Vancouver
this Friday at Auburn at 8:00 pm in the WCD Semi-Final. They beat Auburn last Saturday in a winner to state game.
Ft. Vancouver ir currently ranked 10th in the state and playing well at the right time. They have a solid post player
with a couple of great guards to compliment her. In the other semi-final you will see #2 Lakes playing #3 Kennedy at
6:00 pm at Auburn.
Thanks to all of the fans and supporters who have watched us play this year. We
encourage you to continue to get out and see us play. February 7, 2008
After a horrendous shooting performance against Auburn Mountainview, the Ravens will look to bounce back and take
on the #2 team in the league, Auburn. Riverside shot a low 9 for 28 from the free-throw line and only 4 for 23 from
the three point line. It is the worst shooting percentages we have had all year. It was tough to get into any
type of rhythm the entire game. No excuses, we must play a lot better if we are going to compete with Kennedy in the
SPSL-Seamount cross over game.
We bounced back on Wednesday and had a great practice. These kids are bound
and determined to reach a goal they set way back when. Thursday practice started off a little slow but picked up as
we progressed. We feel we are ready to take on Auburn on our seniors last home game of their high school career.
Note: With Katie Grad and Stephanie Egwuatu having already signed letters of intent, our other 3 seniors have all
been offered. Gina Hagerty has been offered by a Division II school while Randi Raiford is looking to play NAIA basketball.
Rachel Givens, an all-state goalie, is looking to play soccer and basketball for a JUCO school down in Arizona. Nothing
has been confirmed but they do have options. Our kids have worked hard to get to this point in their lives and are very
excited about their future.
For now, we will focus on beating Auburn Friday night and preparing for
a great run in the post season!!!
Jan 27, 2008
We are coming off our
State Championship Banner night (Friday against Bonney Lake). The big beautiful banner was hung up above the retired
jersey of Julie Futch. At half-time, the players from last years team were presented with a state championship t-shirt
and unveiled the banner. Missing were Stephanie Wilber (ASU) and Ireti Amojo (Germany).
The Ravens are working
hard on getting better and better defensively. Being able to lock down certain players is going to be a key for Riverside
as there are some 3A players in the state that have tremendous talent.
Currently, Lakes is undefeated and
playing as well as anyone in the state. They have proved they are a top team in the state. Kennedy is also undefeated
and looking like a state contender. With a new coach at helm, they are playing smart basketball and will get a shot
to play for the #1 seed to West Central District.
Teams to watch for in the West Central District Tournament:
#1 Riverside
#2 Lakes
#3 Kennedy
#9 Capital
Other teams who will contend for a state birth:
White River, Enumclaw, Auburn, Auburn Mt. View, Lindbergh, Mt. Rainier, Kelso, Ft. Vancouver, Port Angeles
and Olympic.
January 14, 2008
We are coming off another league win last Friday beating
Auburn 94-48. Katie Grad led the way with 33 points and 16 rebounds. She controlled nearly the entire game.
She was aggressive on both ends of the floor. Nichole Jackson played some great lock down defense while still hitting
2 big three's on the offensive end. She has improved more than anyone in the state in her defense. She
has a swagger about her on both ends of the floor and it is becoming more and more obvious to those who watch her play. Our
two point guards (Jackson and Wetmore) forced Auburn to play the uptempo we force teams to try to play. They were great
in setting up player after player. I believe they are the best backcourt in the state and possibly the best backcourt
on the West Coast (and they are only a junior and a sophomore)
What some people don't realize is
that the Nike TOC and the Riverside Invitational had great teams that pushed us and made us better. It prepared us to
play league and gear up for post season. Our defense is getting better and better every day. Our offense has always
been there, though we did not shoot the ball against Auburn. Shots we normally hit were not falling for us.
We play Auburn Mt. View Tuesday and White River on Friday, both on the road. We are healthy for the most part.
Stephanie Egwuatu played on a sore ankle Friday against Auburn but should be 85% ready against AM. She is a big part
of what we do on both ends of the floor and will be good to get her 100% healthy.
We encourage all of our
supporters to get to the Auburn Mt. View game by 5:30 Tuesday night!!!
Coach Barrett
On a side note,
our JV team, coached by Gary Wilson and Laine Lenihan, have been getting better and better every game. Jelisa Pretz
and Carline Penor are returning starters from last years JV squad and are leading our JV group this year to an undefeated
season in WA. They have 3 losses, all coming from out of state teams. Freshman players Brooklynn Hinkens and Makenna
Clark have been playing solid the last couple of games. They both have been shooting the ball really well. Hannah
Melick (fr) and Gina Cardenas (so) have been dominating the boards, making a huge impact in the paint. Megan Amis in
her first year with the program has proven tremendous athleticism and speed. She fits into the system perfectly!
Lauran Johnson and Jordan Misocky are also playing great, both being freshman. Paige Patterson and Olivia Camarillo
are pushing themselves to continue to learn the Riverside system and seeing themselves improve every week.
Rachel DeVaux played in her first varsity game against Sumner last week and had 2 points, 1 steal, and 1 rebound.
She is a freshman who has shown a lot of consistency the past month. |
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Back to Back State Champions |
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