Team expecting to be strong in 2008-09Another basketball season will begin for the Northwest College Lady Trappers Friday, and they will enter the slate with a wealth of returning players.Coach Chad Oletzke's squad has five players back from last season, including sophomores Kassi Tucker (5-6), Sheena Ryan (5-5), Lacey Gilmer (5-5), Gita Grava (5-11) and Erin Cooke (6-2). Of those players, four garnered considerable playing time in 2007-08. Tucker, however, missed the season while recovering from a knee injury suffered during a practice before the first week of action.“We've got a good group back, and we've got some new players that should give us a boost,” Oletzke said. “During a scrimmage against Great Falls' JV team last week, we got a glimpse of what we can do. Our experienced showed, and I think it gave the girls some additional confidence.”Among the players who are expected to challenge for postseason honors are Cooke and Grava. Cooke, a post player, averaged more than 12 points and nine rebounds per game as a freshman. Prior to last season, Cooke was somewhat of an unknown, but she quickly established herself a key contributor in the absence of then-sophomore Ashley Bucker, who sat out the first half of the season due to being ruled academically ineligible. Cooke is now considered to be among the top post players in NWC's region.“Erin should have a great year,” Oletzke said. “She steadily improved last year, and she's playing with a lot of confidence.”Grava, who can play at the post position or on the wing, returns after averaging just more than seven points and seven rebounds per contest last season. Oletzke said the sophomore from Riga, Latvia, has been strong in practices and enjoyed a solid showing in NWC's scrimmage against Great Falls last week.“She's really progressed,” Oletzke said. “The biggest thing is that she's showing more maturity. She can have a good season, and right now it looks almost like she's stepping into a leadership role for us.”Ryan and Gilmer, according to their coach, also appear ready to enjoy solid performances this year. Ryan, a point guard, emerged as a key contributor last season, particularly in the region tournament, where she came off the bench and earned all-tournament honors. Oltezke described Gilmer, a guard, as “the quarterback of the team” because of her leadership abilities and work ethic.“Sheena plays with consistency, and she's really progressed a lot last season,” Oletzke said. “Lacey had a good offseason, and she's shooting the ball with more confidence. If those two can continue to shoot the ball well, that will open up things for us on offense.”As for Tucker, Oletzke said she will be a freshman as far as experience because of her injury last season. However, he added she still learned a great deal as part of the team in 2007-08, and that should help her become a contributor.“She's still gaining confidence in her knee,” Oletzke said. “As she gets more comfortable playing, I think she'll be able to help us a lot.”Newcomers to the team include freshmen Sharla Stevenson (5-6), Cheyenne Cammack (5-9), Chanda Hallows (5-7), Izzy Gustafson (5-11), Larissa Crump (5-8), Madara Upeniece (6-0), Kati Oliverson (5-11) and Rachel Tilley (6-2). Of those, Crump, a point guard, has made a quick impact and appears ready to contribute.“She was a late addition,” Oletzke said. “We got her the week before classes started. She's athletic, and she'll be a good secondary point guard for us. She sees the floor well, and she's a good passer.”Oletzke said all of the freshmen have made strides in practice, and he expects them to endure a bit of a learning curve in the early stages of this year's campaign. At the same time, he said they also can make a difference this season. He did note, however, that Cammack currently is out of the lineup due to a knee injury.“We just have to keep working and getting a little better each day,” Oletzke said. “If we can do that, I think we can challenge in our sub-region and in our conference.”Unlike the Trapper men's team, which opens the season at home Friday, the Lady Trappers will begin the 2008-09 slate on the road at the two-day Williston State College Tournament. On Friday, NWC will face Lake Region. On day two of the event, Oletzke's squad will match up against Williston State College.

Team expecting to be strong in 2008-09

Another basketball season will begin for the Northwest College Lady Trappers Friday, and they will enter the slate with a wealth of returning players.

Coach Chad Oletzke's squad has five players back from last season, including sophomores Kassi Tucker (5-6), Sheena Ryan (5-5), Lacey Gilmer (5-5), Gita Grava (5-11) and Erin Cooke (6-2). Of those players, four garnered considerable playing time in 2007-08. Tucker, however, missed the season while recovering from a knee injury suffered during a practice before the first week of action.

“We've got a good group back, and we've got some new players that should give us a boost,” Oletzke said. “During a scrimmage against Great Falls' JV team last week, we got a glimpse of what we can do. Our experienced showed, and I think it gave the girls some additional confidence.”

Among the players who are expected to challenge for postseason honors are Cooke and Grava. Cooke, a post player, averaged more than 12 points and nine rebounds per game as a freshman. Prior to last season, Cooke was somewhat of an unknown, but she quickly established herself a key contributor in the absence of then-sophomore Ashley Bucker, who sat out the first half of the season due to being ruled academically ineligible. Cooke is now considered to be among the top post players in NWC's region.

“Erin should have a great year,” Oletzke said. “She steadily improved last year, and she's playing with a lot of confidence.”

Grava, who can play at the post position or on the wing, returns after averaging just more than seven points and seven rebounds per contest last season. Oletzke said the sophomore from Riga, Latvia, has been strong in practices and enjoyed a solid showing in NWC's scrimmage against Great Falls last week.

“She's really progressed,” Oletzke said. “The biggest thing is that she's showing more maturity. She can have a good season, and right now it looks almost like she's stepping into a leadership role for us.”

Ryan and Gilmer, according to their coach, also appear ready to enjoy solid performances this year. Ryan, a point guard, emerged as a key contributor last season, particularly in the region tournament, where she came off the bench and earned all-tournament honors. Oltezke described Gilmer, a guard, as “the quarterback of the team” because of her leadership abilities and work ethic.

“Sheena plays with consistency, and she's really progressed a lot last season,” Oletzke said. “Lacey had a good offseason, and she's shooting the ball with more confidence. If those two can continue to shoot the ball well, that will open up things for us on offense.”

As for Tucker, Oletzke said she will be a freshman as far as experience because of her injury last season. However, he added she still learned a great deal as part of the team in 2007-08, and that should help her become a contributor.

“She's still gaining confidence in her knee,” Oletzke said. “As she gets more comfortable playing, I think she'll be able to help us a lot.”

Newcomers to the team include freshmen Sharla Stevenson (5-6), Cheyenne Cammack (5-9), Chanda Hallows (5-7), Izzy Gustafson (5-11), Larissa Crump (5-8), Madara Upeniece (6-0), Kati Oliverson (5-11) and Rachel Tilley (6-2). Of those, Crump, a point guard, has made a quick impact and appears ready to contribute.

“She was a late addition,” Oletzke said. “We got her the week before classes started. She's athletic, and she'll be a good secondary point guard for us. She sees the floor well, and she's a good passer.”

Oletzke said all of the freshmen have made strides in practice, and he expects them to endure a bit of a learning curve in the early stages of this year's campaign. At the same time, he said they also can make a difference this season. He did note, however, that Cammack currently is out of the lineup due to a knee injury.

“We just have to keep working and getting a little better each day,” Oletzke said. “If we can do that, I think we can challenge in our sub-region and in our conference.”

Unlike the Trapper men's team, which opens the season at home Friday, the Lady Trappers will begin the 2008-09 slate on the road at the two-day Williston State College Tournament. On Friday, NWC will face Lake Region. On day two of the event, Oletzke's squad will match up against Williston State College.