Girls basketball update

The Lady Wolverines basketball team is staying positive and working hard to reach their goals despite their standings not being what they’d hoped for. With two wins and 11 losses, the team is looking forward to the last few games to hopefully reach some of their goals and see a few more winning scoreboards.

“I have continued to be impressed by the positive attitudes and good teamwork that the players have had, despite our record not being so great, “ Head Coach Sue Grenfell said. “That isn’t always easy, to stay together as a team and to keep working hard when the wins aren’t coming often.”

On Jan. 24, the team competed against Mount Vernon Christian Academy in an away game. The Lady Wolverines had a tough contest with the Lady Hurricanes of Mount Vernon Christian. The Lady Hurricanes took the lead early and never let up, taking the win, 52-27.

In December, the Lady Wolverines were able to conquer both the Lopez and South Whidbey teams. The team played Lopez Island at home on Saturday, Dec. 7 ending the game with a score of 32-25. On Saturday, Dec. 28, the team beat South Whidbey away, 34–26.

“In each game, the team has focused on working hard every possession, continuing to improve on our fundamentals and staying positive,” Grenfell said. “We just keep trying to improve every day. It’s the same in practice.”

During the end of January and into February the team will face off again against Darrington, Concrete, Orcas and LaConner. Grenfell is hoping to see continual improvement all the way through to the end of the season.

“I’d like to just see us continue to do the right thing more and more often and to continue to improve,” Grenfell said. “To get better at recognizing what the other team’s defense is giving us, at knowing when to shoot, when to pass, when to drive and to get more confident in recognizing what we can do well.”

Team goals and personal goals are also something Grenfell is using to help her players stay focused and motivated these next few weeks.

“Our game goals have been the same most of the season — to stay below a certain number of turnovers, shoot a certain percentage and outrebound our opponents. We have met them in some games, not in most. Unfortunately, we are yet to meet our shooting percentage goal,” Grenfell said. “But the goal we have met most consistently is the more qualitative goal of being present and positive through the game as a team. I’m very pleased on how well we have done with that. It hasn’t been every game, but almost. This team plays hard to the final buzzer.”

Utilizing her team’s leaders has always been important to Grenfell as well and the team recently added two more captains to help support Senior and initial captain Bailee Lambright.

“Bailee continues to be a leader, both with her performance and with her attitude,” Grenfell said. “But we just added two new team captains to make three total. They are juniors Fallon Taylor and Rachel Starr. They both play with great hustle and effort every moment they are on the court, both in practice and in games.”

Starr is the team’s second-leading scorer just behind Lambright and, “Fallon is invaluable to us as our primary ball-handler,” Grenfell said. According to Grenfell, Senior Liz Cruz is an exceptional defensive player who often guards the other team’s best outside player and has been a great help to all of her teammates.

Points scored and time played isn’t the only way that members can add to the team in Grenfell’s opinion.

“One good example of the quality of character on this team is Junior Brittany Muir. She had a significant knee injury last season and was hoping to be able to play this year but hasn’t made it back on the court yet,” Grenfell said. “But she is still at practice every day, doing anything she can to help out. She’s at every game, cheering on her teammates. Her leadership this year has been wonderful.”

Overall, Grenfell is proud of her team.

“The team’s strengths are a desire to improve, a lot of heart in games and the care and support they show for each other. It’s really a good group of young women —young people of character,” Grenfell said. “They are respectful, full of laughter and fun to be around. I’m very fortunate to be a part of this team.”

The Friday Harbor Wolverines hosted the Darrington Loggers Monday, Jan. 26 in Turnbull Gym.

The Lady Wolverines took the lead early and kept it till the end capturing the win. Final score Lady Wolverines 39 to Lady Loggers 30.

The next game is against Concrete at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at home, followed by the Orcas Vikings at 5:25 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31.

Olivia Meenan brings the ball up court to start the offensive play. (John Stimpson/contributed photo.)

Bailee Lambright lays up a two-point shot. (John Stimpson/contributed photo.) Bailee Lambright lays up a two-point shot. (John Stimpson/contributed photo.)