Title team grads depart: Bulldog girls take aim at new hoop campaign

After bagging the state championship last March with an unforgettable late charge against Davenport, the defending state champions, Colfax girls will crank up for another season by hosting a hoop jamboree Monday. The Bulldogs will host Lakeside and Oakesdale in 10 minute rounds to launch the season.

Coach Corey Baerlocher, who is starting his 17th season at Colfax, faces a big rebuilding task after graduating five seniors off of last year's title team. All five seniors carved out their own roles in last year's 24-4 campaign to the title.

Top grad Carmen Gfeller, who finished a four-year varsity campaign for Colfax, is now at the University of Montana. Last word from Missoula is that they have decided to drop a plan for Gfeller to red shirt for the season and that she's beginning to pick up varsity points.

Greta Geier, Piper Cai, Josie Riebold and Abbie Miller also departed. Each had a big part on the title run with Miller capping the season on strong off shots that erased a Davenport lead late in the title game. Miller is playing volleyball at Walla Walla CC.

One unusual option for a Colfax hoop grade was taken by Geier who is now practicing for a seat on the WSU women's crew.

Coach Baerlocher said one of the changes Colfax will have to make this year will be more speed. The Bulldogs won't have the size to replicate the style of play the team used last year.

The plan will be to use the speed factor to shake out shooting spots against opponents and then hit the shots.

Rachel Brown returns as a senior this year and will be back in the forward spot. Shyah Antoine returns as a junior, and Kierstyn York, who had some varsity action last year as a freshman, can be expected to see more this year year

Taylre Sakamoto-Howell and Skylre Sakamoto-Howelll, a senior and junior, both picked up their shooting game as season advanced last year and can be expected land the long shots Colfax will need. Taylre returns as a senior and Skylre is a junior.

Baerlocher rates sophomore Anni Cox and freshman Asher Cai as true point guards who will have a lot to do with the offense.

The NE schools this year have also split the league into north and south divisions for the hoop season. St. George's will join the lineup on the north side hoops and Tekoa/Rosalia will be back in action on the south side.

Coach Baerlocher rates Liberty with Maisie Burnham and crew back in a action as the top team on the south side and possibly Colfax in the number- two slot behind the Lancers.

On the north side, he sees Northwest Christian and as the division leader with Davenport back in the chase. Unlike Colfax, Davenport will have most of their title game lineup from last year back on the court. Sydney Abbott was the lone senior in the Gorilla lineup last year.