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- photo by Sophie |
Season Outlook
Leadership of the 2007-08 Olympic College Women’s Basketball program has been turned over to former OC standout Paul Felker. A 1996 graduate of Enumclaw High School (Enumclaw, Wash.), Felker was a 1st Team All-South Puget Sound League (North) basketball selection his junior and senior season. Recruited by current OC Athletic Director Barry Janusch, Felker was a two-year Ranger starter and captain his sophomore year. Felker went on to play his final two seasons at Central Washington University, where he led the Wildcats to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship, his junior year, and two NCAA Division II National tournament berths. For the last four seasons, Felker has been assisting with the OC Men’s Basketball program. Additionally, he has been developing the top female basketball players in Kitsap County as an instructor for Total Package Basketball. The Lady Rangers this season will have a good mix of veteran and new players. Returning from last year’s team are guard Ariel McDermott (5-foot7, Central Kitsap High, Silverdale, Wash.) and forwards Laraa Brown (6-foot, Puyallup High, Puyallup Wash.) and Whitney Pearson (5-foot-10, North Mason High, Allyn, Wash.). Megan Gilbert (5-foot-10, South Kitsap High, Port Orchard, Wash.) redshirted last season and will play this year. Patricia Lewis (5-foot-10, Bremerton High, Bremerton, Wash.) transferred to OC, after playing her freshman year at North Seattle Community College. McDermott, who averaged 11.3 points per game (ppg) and 6.2 rebounds per game (rpg) as a shooting guard last season, will split time between the wing and point guard positions. “Ariel is a great athlete, with good size, speed, and strength,” said Felker. “She pushes the ball up the floor very well and will be a tough defensive assignment for the opposing team.” Last season, Brown recorded more floor time than any other Lady Ranger and averaged 6.9 ppg and 4.3 rbg. Like last season, Brown will be looked to for her shooting ability and to use her size to rebound for OC. “Laara is a very good shooter,” Felker added, “who can score from mid- and long-range.” [ top ] |
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(Tuesday, March 4, 2008 - Kitsap Sun Sports)
Gilbert Earns All-North Honors
Olympic College's Megan Gilbert was a first-team selection on the all-NWAACC North Division women's basketball teams. Gilbert, from North Kitsap, averaged 17.5 points for the Rangers. Teammate Coty Ettl was a second-team pick.
(Sunday, March 2, 2008 - Kitsap Sun Sports)
Coach Felker's Already Got Commitments From Oly's Fanua, BHS' Abad
It's tough to sustain momentum in a long basketball season when as a coach you have limited resources. That's the way it was for first-year Olympic College women's basketball coach Paul Felker who got hired late in the recruiting process and had to make do with a roster of eight players that was reduced to five over the last two games of the season. (more>>)
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Two years removed from knee surgery, Pearson’s confidence and game has returned. Last season, she was used sparingly in mostly defensive situations and averaged 3.5 ppg and 4.4 rpg. “Whitney is a very solid player,” stated Felker. “She has very good floor sense and does not make a lot of mistakes. She will mix it up with anyone on the inside.”
The utility, all-around, player for the Rangers this season will be sophomore Megan Gilbert (5-foot-10, South Kitsap High, Port Orchard). “Megan can do everything – dribble, shoot, drive and rebound,” Felker explained. “She has the ability to play at the next level, if she continues to work on her game and academics.”
Freshman point guard Dorothy Wood (5-foot-7, Lincoln High, Tacoma, Wash.) will share the play calling responsibilities with McDermott. “Dorothy is a tough, hard nose, player,” Felker pointed out. “She will adapt very quickly to the up-tempo physical style of play in the NWAACC. She is a good shooter and natural floor leader.” At Lincoln High last year, Wood averaged 11.0 ppg and 7.0 assists per game (asp).
The new shooter on the Rangers team is freshman Coty Ettl (5-foot-10, Central Kitsap High, Silverdale, Wash.). Recruited by every school in the NWAACC, Ettl chose Olympic College due to the coach staff. “I worked with Coach Felker at Total Package and his instruction helped me to get where I am today,” Ettl said. “Plus, I want a chance to make OC Women’s Basketball a top program again.” A 1st Team All-Narrows League player at Central Kitsap High last year, Ettl led the Cougars to the state tournament and was selected as a Kitsap Sun Newspaper Super 6 players.
Christina Lawrence (5-foot-6, Bremerton High, Bremerton, Wash.) is the defensive expert of the team. “Christina is very fast,” Felker added. “We will ask her to pressure the ball and create fast break opportunities for the team off steals.”
“Our first goal this season is to be competitive in the NWAACC North Division,” Felker said. “Our second goal, is to begin rebuilding the Olympic College Women’s Basketball tradition. To make this program, once again, a stepping stone to four year basketball programs for female players in Kitsap County.” |