Friday, February 19, 2010

WRHS girls saluted at team banquet

Coach praises effort, awards given


Wood River sophomore Cheyenne Swanson, her team’s top rebounder along with classmate Haylee Thompson, stops and pops during the “Senior Night” game against the Kimberly Bulldogs Jan. 28. Photo by David N. Seelig

Strong defense is a big part of any successful basketball team. It elevated the Wood River High School girls' basketball team to a school record of 17 wins in the recently completed 2009-10 cage campaign.

Wood River saluted its varsity, junior varsity and freshman teams during its season-ending team banquet Tuesday in Hailey. Coach Mendy Benson presided and praised the efforts of parents and players in making the season a success.

Benson said, "I don't know if I've been prouder of a team. The girls came together as a team and grew. We did a pretty good job with our pre-season goal of winning 10 games."

Wood River, 5-16 last year and 3-6 at home, ended with a 17-7 overall record and 11-1 home mark, both school records covering 35 years of WRHS basketball. The team limited foes to 36.5 ppg defense, beating the previous school-record 37.4 ppg mark set by the 15-8 Hailey squad of 2001-02.

Team awards Tuesday:

Best Defensive Player: Sophomore Tristin Bowers. Most Inspirational Player: Senior Kelly Chapman.

Most Improved: Senior Monica Garceau. Benson said, "Monica raised her game to a level she can be proud of. She grew as a person and player. She was the heart and soul of our zone defense in the back."

212 Extra Degree Player: Alex Lindbloom. The coach said, "Alex led us in charges and loose balls. Whatever she does, she does with tremendous joy and passion."

Benson said she doesn't give a Most Valuable Player in her basketball program, but if she did, it would have gone to sophomore Kaitana Martinez, the leading scorer with 257 points. Top rebounders for the season were Cheyenne Swanson and Haylee Thompson.

Final statistics: WR 17-7 (11-1 home, 6-6 away, 5-5 league). Offense: 1046 points (43.6 ppg, 10 points higher than last year). Defense: 876 points (36.5 ppg, 4.5 points lower). Individual scorers: Kaitana Martinez 257 points (11.2 ppg), Tristin Bowers 163 points (6.8), Monica Garceau 155 (6.5), Cheyenne Swanson 126 (5.3), Haylee Thompson 119 (5.0), Alex Lindbloom 72 (3.0), Grace Lagodich 65, Allie Hesteness 46, Jade Glenn 21, Kelly Chapman 10, Brooke Bowers 9, Megan Morrell 4, Hunter Thompson 2 and Haillie Taylor 2. 3-pointers (48), leaders: Martinez 22, Tristin Bowers 11, Hesteness 6, Lindbloom 5. Free throws: 223-366, 61%.




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