Women's Basketball News
News
Congratulations to Rachel Goetz for being selected as the NWAC Coach of the Year.
NWAC Press Release:
Goetz led the Knights to a second place finish in the East Region with a 13-3 record
while going 28-5 overall. She skippered Wenatchee Valley past top-ranked Lane in the
Final Four and defeated 3rd-ranked Umpqua 74-70 to claim the Knight’s fourth NWAC
Championship.
WENATCHEE VALLEY 74, UMPQUA 70
By Nick Vitalis for NWAC
EVERETT, WA -- The old adage was never truer Sunday afternoon, as Wenatchee Valley’s top-ranked defense neutralized Umpqua’s second-ranked offense on the way to a 74-70 victory in the NWAC women’s basketball championship game.
Sophomore Ashlynn Burgess won the tournament MVP, and leaves Wenatchee Valley as the all-time leading scorer.
That adage, of course, being that defense wins championship. But the Wenatchee Valley Knight’s head coach Rachel Goetz would like to add something to it.
“Defense and free throws [win championships],” she said with a laugh.
Concerning free throws, the Knights sank four more than Umpqua in six more opportunities.
Four extra free-throws in a four-point game certainly holds relevance.
Their defense was suffocating, especially on the perimeter, forcing the Riverhawks into the paint to score their points.
Late in the season, Goetz said, maintaining a top-ranked defense is all about preparation.
“That [defense] comes because our girls are religious about learning their scouting reports, religious about watching film, and religious about knowing personnel,” Goetz said.
“Of course we talk about intensity and positioning, but that stuff comes way back in October and November. Now it’s just about executing our game plan.”
That game plan led Wenatchee Valley to their fourth title in school history, while handing the Umpqua Riverhawks their second championship loss in as many years.
The Knights scored first and allowed the Riverhawks just one lead all game. Despite that, it was a tightly contested game. The Riverhawks managed to repeatedly claw their way to back within a score. Each time, though, the Knights pushed back.
Wenatchee Valley’s defense held three of Umpqua’s starters scoreless through the first half, forcing them to lean on sophomore Taylor Stricklin and freshman Darian Mitchell. The two combined for 45 points by the end of the game, 21 from Stricklin and 24 from Mitchell, who ended as the game’s top scorer.
Wenatchee had a torrid second quarter, scoring 28 points while holding Umpqua to 20. Freshman Cariann Kunkel scored 14 of those points and finished the game as the team leader in points (22) and game leader in rebounds (12).
That strong second quarter gave the Knights an eight-point lead going into the second half. Riverhawks freshman point guard Cielo Gonzalez took over and led Umqpua on the floor, garnering 11 of her 15 points in the second half, distributing the ball well and playing hard defense.
The result was Wenatchee finding themselves with their backs against the wall, as Umpqua mounted a furious charge. They tied the game three times in the last five minutes yet were unable to find the go-ahead shot with multiple opportunities.
Wenatchee Valley buckled down and came back to their game plan, Goetz said.
“We talked about drawing fouls, executing our offense, and getting stops by rebounding.
In front of a hushed gym, freshman guard Chasity Spady sank the final four free throws to put them up 74-70 and seal the game. Spady was awarded the tournament’s most inspirational player and finished with 19 points.
Burgess had just two words to describe Spady.
“She is clutch money!” Burgess said, holding her portion of the cut-down net.
More than anything, Burgess said, their team chemistry held them together through the late challenge by Umpqua and through their season.
“We’re a family, there’s nothing we wouldn’t do for each other. We’ve grown so much together,” Burgess said.
Goetz added that Burgess had a big part as well.
“She’s amazing. Hands down, she led her team to this.”
MVP - Ashlynn Burgess, Wenatchee Valley
Most Inspirational - Chasity Spady, Wenatchee Valley
First Team
Cariann Kunkel, Wenatchee Valley
Chasity Spady, Wenatchee Valley
Taylor Stricklin, Umpqua
Darian Mitchell, Umpqua
Kylie Guelsdorf, Lane
Second Team
Ashley Peralta, Wenatchee Valley
Cielo Gonzalez, Umpqua
Grace Campbell, Umpqua
Kalina Rojas, Lane
Leah Dougherty, Big Bend
http://www.nwacsports.org/basketball/index.php?id=15988&cat=0
Wenatchee Valley Athletics would like to welcome Kiara Steen from W.F. West High School. Kiara had a tremendous impact as a prep athlete. While at W. F. West, Steen averaged 13.5 points, 2 rebounds, 5 steals and 6 assists per game. She was voted team captain and also recognized as the 2018 Co-MVP in the Evergreen League. Steen also received Lewis County All-Area Athlete, Eli Sports 1st Team All-State, 2018 WSCA 2A Player of the Year, Associated Press 2A Player of the Year, and most recently the 2018 Olympian Player of the Year. Kiara led her team to a 24-2 season, where the Bearcats finished as the 2018 2A Evergreen League Champions, District 2A League Champions, and topped it off with the State 2A Championship.
Head Coach, Rachel Goetz had the following to say about Steen, "Kiara will be a key piece in our freshman recruiting class. She is ferocious on defense. She can play and defend the length of the floor! We will look to her for her speed, defense, offensive savvy, and winning mentality as a freshman at Wenatchee. We are extremely excited to add Kiara and her parents, Stacy & Trina Steen to the WVC Family! Go Knights!
While at Wenatchee Valley, Steen plans on getting her AA and obtaining her pre-requisites for a radiology tech program.
Wenatchee Valley Athletics would like to welcome Lindsay Laws from Plains High School
in Plains, Montana. Lindsay was a 3-sport athlete in high school, making a name for
herself in volleyball, basketball and track. Lindsay led her high school basketball
team to a 10-2 conference finish and a conference championship in 2018. She is a 2-time Mission
Valley All-Star Basketball MVP and has lettered in multiple sports. Lindsay was also
an All-Academic athlete in volleyball, basketball & track.
Head Coach, Rachel Goetz had the following to say about Laws, "Lindsay was a fit the moment she got on campus! This kid can play the game and was so upbeat and excited about being a part of what we have here at WVC! We are excited to welcome Lindsay and her parents, Chadd and Amy Laws to the WVC family! Go Knights!"
Why Laws Chose WVC
"I was looking for a school that offered an early childhood degree for pre-school
to 2nd grade and where I would have an opportunity to be a part of a team. When the
opportunity arose to come over for a visit with Coach Goetz and to tour the school,
I decided to make an Easter weekend out of it. I really enjoyed the coaches and girls
I got to play with. The campus is just the right size and in a beautiful location.
I really enjoyed the town of Wenatchee. It felt like a great fit for me, like a door
was being opened and lots of different things in my life just seemed to be falling
into place to make it happen."
Wenatchee Valley 74 Lower Columbia 60 stats
The third place NWAC Women's Basketball Tournament game saw the East Region Champions
Wenatchee Valley College Lady Knights battle the West Region Co-Champion, Lower Columbia
Lady Red Devils with WVC winning 74-60.
The Lady Knights had a balanced scoring attack with five players scoring at least
9 points. Shayla Johnson came off the bench for WVC with 19 points, followed by Drew
Carlos with 16 points and 12 rebounds, Lauren Johnson had 13 points, Treasure Farmer had 12 points, and Rebecca Stevenson
finished with 9 points and 9 rebounds.
The third pace trophy is Wenatchee Valley's eighth. The Knights complete their season
at 27-6.
2016 Eastern Region Champions
- Lauren Johnson: Eastern Region 1st Team All League / NWAC Tournament 2nd Team / Wenatchee Valley College Athlete of the Year
- Drew Carlos: Eastern Region 1st Team All League / Eastern Region Defensive Player of the Year
- Shayla Johnson: Eastern Region All Defensive Team / NWAC Tournament 2nd Team
By Doug Flanagan
March 5, 2015
At the beginning of the season, Rachel Bromiley-Goetz had a premonition about her Wenatchee Valley College women’s basketball team.
“(She) told us at the beginning of the year that we were different than a lot of groups,” said freshman guard Jillian Jacobs, “and we kind of questioned it because we hadn’t played any games.”
But now, as the Knights are preparing to play in their first Northwest Athletic Conference tournament in eight years, it’s perfectly all right to say that the coach’s vision was an accurate one.
“They’re winners,” Bromiley-Goetz said. “There’s a certain mindset on the team, and the coaching staff felt that from the beginning. They come winning programs in high school. We are freshman-heavy, but the reality is that they are kids that are used to playing at a high level, used to competing with the best and for the most part used to winning against the best, so there’s no reason to think that wouldn’t carry over, and it has. I think that we’ve had some of those runs simply because that’s what they’re used to.
“And they work so hard. That’s the other part, too. Their work ethic is just top-notch. They get into each other in practice, which from a coaching perspective is nice to see. We make our practices very hard on ourselves. That’s a mindset from the coaching staff — we want to make a challenging practice plan, but the reality is that they have to bring it. And they are so competitive in practice in everything that we do. Some days we have to back them off.
WVC enters tournament play having won nine of its past 10 games, but the Knights have played at a consistent high level for the vast majority of the season, save for their three-game loss streak at the start of East Region play.... Click to read more. (NOTE: log-in may be required to view the full article).
Written by Keli Grover, WVC Spring 2012 Discover
Kate Patenaude is a starter for the Wenatchee Valley College women’s basketball team.
She first visited Wenatchee last spring during her recruiting trip and immediately
recognized how much it reminded her of her home town of Missoula, Montana, “without
the mountains, but just as pretty,” she said. “It just felt like the right fit. I
got along great with the girls and I could tell Coach (Rachel) Goetz was very passionate
about what she does and the name we wear on our jerseys. I knew I was going to be
able to get a lot more experience playing basketball at the college level. I would
also be able to work towards what I wanted to do for a career, which is nursing.”
Kate grew up watching her mom, Nancy, interact with hospital patients and saw the true impact a nurse and a patient can have on one another. In her senior year of high school, Nancy introduced Kate to one of her patients. She explained that 18-year-old Emmanuel Nsubuga, nicknamed “Emma”, a young African man suffering from Legg-Calve Perthes disease and deformed hips, just needed a friend to talk to while he recovered from a difficult surgery.
Kate whole heartedly believes that opportunities are given to everyone, but it is what you choose to do with them that can change your life. With an open heart and a determination to help someone in need, she began meeting with Emma. What began with a simple introduction turned into a lasting friendship.
Kate also saw an opportunity to raise money for his family and the local orphanage where he lived, Musana Children’s Home. She opened a booth at the Missoula Saturday Market and began selling purses, backpacks and jewelry, raising $1,000 to support her friend.
Meeting Emma solidified the fact that nursing was Kate’s future. “There was no longer any doubt in my mind,” she said.
After obtaining a degree in nursing, she plans to become a traveling nurse, helping patients both in the U.S. and internationally.
Kate now finds the support she once showed Emma in her own teammates, and she is often reminded of their friendship when she listens to Coach Goetz’s locker room talks.
“On Saturday afternoon when we are sitting in the locker room, Coach will remind us that Lady Knights are about something bigger than ourselves; it’s about being a team,” Kate said. “The girls support me both on and off the court. We’re like a family.”
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