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........................... Nov. 16 - Nov. 29, 2001
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| Strong Teams, Strong Outlook | |
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While students were working hard to break out of their summer routine and get back to maintaining half-decent GPA's, both the men's and women's basketball teams were practicing ball, even if it was the beginning of the quarter.
This basketball season reeks of intensity and sweat, along with sparks of victory. Quality and experienced players have filled both teams rosters, and for the men; it's do or die.
"If we fall short of anything less than winning our region, we fall short," men's coach Steve Eskridge said.
Eskridge, a second team all-star member from his days at Spokane Community College is coaching his 10th year here. As a focus-setting motivator, Eskridge has set the team's eyes set on heaven, or something better.
"We have a legitimate shot at winning the NWAACC championship title," he said.
So with the division and the NWAACC title in mind, the Dolphins are training tough, and staying focused. The effect is a wider "W" column on this year's score sheet, making room for a team with more depth and size than last year's.
"This year's team is one of the most athletic teams I've seen," Eskridge said. "But you never know how they'll do until they get out there."
The 1999-2000 year Dolphins fell short of the division title by two games, ending the season in a 12-4 league record, 17-11 overall.
Returning this year is Willis Woods who was a first team all-star for the northern region last year.
"He's a scoring machine," Eskridge said of his 6-foot-5 post. "He's one of the better athletes I've seen. I'm trying to get him to focus on the fundamentals so he can reach his full potential."
Although second-year guard Ricky Frazier is two inches shorter than any of his teammates, his 5-foot-8 frame hasn't stopped him from becoming a key member to the team.
"Ricky's real quick, a great ball-handler, and good shooter," Eskridge said. "He was a heck of a (first-year) player last year."
Other strong players for this year's men's team are 6-foot-4 Bobby Johnson, who was benched last year on injuries, and 6-foot Marcus Smith.
With a strong core and an aggressive team, Eskridge sees high potential for the Dolphins.
"If we focus on defense and rebounds and put them together with our quickness and offense we have a shot at the title," Eskridge said.
Women's coach Gary Dawson has also set the bar high for his team.
"We want to score in the 80's to 90's," Dawson said.
An aggressive offense and firm defense have set the stage for a stronger team than last year's, which went 8-8 in league play and 12-14 overall, finishing fifth for their division.
"Our strengths are definitely our speed and shooting," Dawson said.
But second-year forward/center Melissa Fuller sees room for improvement.
"Sometimes we're lazy on defense," she said.
Teammate Erin Marsh, a guard, added to Fuller's comment: "We also need to look for more openings on half-court offense."
Six-foot Fuller, 5-foot-10 Marsh and 5-foot-11 guard/forward Kimberly Nelson are all returning players, comprising the whole of the second-year team members.
The triplet worked well together last year and see greater potential for their team this year.
"We're playing better together this year and have more leadership," Fuller said.
A practice game played Saturday, Nov. 3 reaffirmed their hopes.
"This year's team is better," Nelson said. "We had a better game on Saturday than any of our games played last year."
"Everything was new last year," Marsh added. "This year everything is more organized and we seem to work together better."
Like the men's team, the women's Dolphins have high aspirations for the NWAACC tournament.
"Our goal is to get into the NWAACC playoffs," Marsh said.
The triplet's real passion lies in their desire for vengeance upon Edmonds. With the Thanksgiving Tournament coming up on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 23-24, the Dolphins see their chance at establishing themselves early.
"The tournament is ours," Nelson said. "We'll kill Edmund's, we'll blow them away."
The triplet concurred.
"We're definitely cross-town rivals," Fuller said.
Dawson, who has coached for thirty years and is entering his fourth year as coach for the Dolphins, predicts good results from the tournament as well.
"We're good enough to win the tournament," he said. "There's a good chance of us beating Edmonds if the girls play like I want them to."
The tournament will be hosted at Shoreline Community College gym and is open to all students. Dawson hopes for a great crowd and predicts a good tournament.
"We want to make the students aware of the games," he said. "We have eight teams and some great basketball coming up on Thanksgiving weekend."
Because of scheduling complications, the men's team will not be participating in the tournament, but instead will be kicking off their season with just one game that weekend.
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| by Chris Collins | |
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