Weekly La Conner High Sports capsule, March 16, 2011

Braves Raves

By Amylynn Richards

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Senior Kyle McKnight has been selected as the Co-All-League Player of the year for his efforts as forward and guard for the Braves. McKnight shares the title with junior and guard Tyler Clark of Concrete.

Scott Novak has been voted Coach of the Year. The Braves share the sportsmanship award with Mount Vernon Christian.

Selected for first team are junior Landy James, guard and forward; and sophomore Spencer Novak, guard.

The Braves had two athletes selected for second team: junior Mike Wilbur, guard; and senior DJ Carr, forward.    

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

The lady Braves held their awards banquet on Tuesday, Mar. 8. Most improved went to Aubrey Stewart; most inspirational, Nikki Finley; and a tie between Priscilla Ponce-Venegas and Samie Miller for most valuable teammate. The Coaches’ Award went to Kelley McClung.

Juniors Nikki Finley and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas were selected to the all-league first team and Samie Miller was given honorable mention.

GOLF

The Braves hosted two home matches at Similk Bay golf course so far this season. The first was on Wednesday, Mar. 9 against Rainier Christian.

The second game was against Friday Harbor on Thursday, Mar. 10.  

BALL GAMES

There is a home baseball game today at 3:30 against Seattle Lutheran, and a home game fastpitch game today at 4 p.m. against Squalicum high school. 

Both Brave ball teams play double headers against Darrington starting at 2 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 18.  The girls will be behind the elementary school, and the boys behind the middle school.

TRACK

Cedar Park Christian is hosting a track meet at the La Conner track and field on Friday, Mar. 18 beginning at 3:30 p.m. Cedar Park is located in Bothell, so hosting in a location closer to the other Northwest League teams was made.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

The Braves are already looking ahead to the autumn 2011 season. Coach Amy Freeto is asking that interested athletes sign up in the high school office and ensure all contact is up to date.

ALUMNI BASKETBALL

The basketball program at La Conner hosted a fund-raising Alumni Basketball tournament on Friday, Mar. 12 and Saturday, Mar. 13. Four teams played three games, not including the championship. The championship was battled out between Swinomish and 25 Bucks; the 25 Bucks won 55-42.  

25 Bucks team members:  Bryce Watkinson (2006), Ryan Coonc (2006), Jermaine Wade (2004), Tony Decker (2003), Adam Roth (2003), Jake Roth (2003), Danny Hagen (2005) and David Stephens (2005).

 

In the March 9, 2011 issue...

Hint: Click "classified ads" and see a page from the current issue

Tables turned – hearing puts Dist. 13 officials in hot seat

POSTED BY SANDY STOKES

Tuesday's public hearing to appeal the suspension and possible termination of Fire District 13 Battalion Chief Doug Avery turned into a critique of the district's management with about 30 people backing Avery.

Of the district’s 40 firefighters, 35 signed a letter stating that the District Commissioners and District Fire Chief have fostered a communication failure and lack of respect and described a “growing mistrust and lack of confidence” in their ability to lead. 

That letter of "no confidence" was read into the hearing record. Read about it in today's paper!

How does the National Flood Insurance Program affect us?

La Conner Town Administrator John Doyle has written a story explaining the politicking that led to regulations that impact our town and other Skagit County cities in regards to the The National Flood Insurance Program. Everyone who lives in an area with a 1 percent chance of flooding is required to buy flood insurance from the feds if their home has a mortgage. John explains it all very clearly in today's paper.

Hand-in-hand for 60 years

Meet Boyd and Donna Zimmerman, who were wed 60 years ago and have been part of La Conner as long as anyone can remember. Writer Mary Evitt has a fascinating profile of this well-known couple in today's paper. 

From the Police Blotter:

12:01 p.m.: Loose dogs – Two dogs were reported to be running loose near Rainbow Bridge in La Conner. 

... not only is there another canine crime wave, but all six of the fugitive turkeys were  loitering on the steps of the Catholic Church on Monday!

Pick up the paper in all the usual places. If you would like us to mail it to you, call us at 360-466-3315.

 

Weekly La Conner High Sports capsule, March 9, 2011

Braves Raves

By Amylynn Richards

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Congratulations to the boys’ basketball team, which finished sixth in the State!

The boys played hard, and lost by only two points in the elite eight to the team which ultimately won the State championship, Northwest Christian, 59-58 on Thursday, March 3 in Spokane.  Northwest won the championship 41-32 against Napavine, which La Conner faced the week before in the sweet sixteen.

The boys beat Adna 40-35 on Friday, Mar. 4, and played one final match against Lake Roosevelt on Saturday, Mar. 5 to determine who would take fourth/sixth place at State. Lake Roosevelt won 62-51.  

ALL-STATE VOLLEYBALL

Candice Pedroza and Lauren McClung, two of La Conner varsity volleyball seniors, have been selected for the honor of playing the 2B All-State volleyball team, which will compete at Fife high school on Saturday, Mar. 12 at 3 p.m.  The event is hosted by the Washington State Coaches Association, and only seniors who were selected to their All-League team are allowed to apply for the All-State team. 

GOLF

Spring sports are in full swing, as evidenced by the Braves golfing team’s busy schedule! The Braves golfing team first hosts Rainier Christian today at Similk Bay golf course, hosts Friday Harbor on Thursday, Mar. 10, then travels to Cedar Park Christian to take on the Eagles on Monday, Mar. 14.

FASTPITCH & BASEBALL

Take me out to the ballgame – the Braves are back in full force and ready to play hard. The fastpitch and baseball teams are still in training, and will host their first games of the season on Wednesday, Mar. 16. The boys will host Seattle Lutheran at the baseball diamond behind the middle school at 3:30 p.m. and the girls host Squalicum high on the field behind the elementary at 4 p.m.

In the March 2, 2011 issue...

We joined the flood map fight

Posted by Sandy Stokes

The town of La Conner has signed on with Mount Vernon and Burlington in their effort to convince federal officials to correct flaws in the government’s final rendition of the federal Flood Insurance Rate Maps.

The cities have teamed up to appeal the maps and have until the end of this month to convince the federal officials to fix them. City officials say that flawed data went into the maps, which were developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The town will pay $1,000 to get on board with Mount Vernon and Burlington, which are funding the $150,000 map fight. Read today's paper to find out why these maps affect everyone, not just people on low ground.

 Photo by Danya Wolf

La Conner High School seniors Brandon Drye, BG Miller and Samie Miller served breakfast to Smelt Derby attendees at Maple Hall on Saturday. The royalty in their midst is Her Highness the Smelt Queen, Linda Reynolds Gravley. 

It's prunin' time again

Residents of La Conner can schedule a free pickup of yard waste during the week of March 21 through March 25 by calling Town Hall, 466-3125. Plant matter and branches only. The town crew will not pick up felled trees, grass clippings, rusted out water heaters or smelly sofas.

 

La Conner journalist Mary Evitt was at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle last week when she caught up with John Christianson of Christianson's Nursery. The garden display by John and his wife, Toni, took the Gold Medal, People's Choice and three other top awards in the show. Details in today's paper.

From the police blotter: 3:04 a.m.: Disorderly – Neighbors complained of a disturbance coming from an apartment, 900 block Maple Ave., La Conner. The deputies went to the residence and found one of the people asleep and the other watching television. It was determined that all the action was on the TV. They turned it down.  Read what else happened in town in today's paper!

Pick up a newspaper at the red news boxes, or at the usual places -- gas station, drug store, produce store, book store and the liquor store.  Or subscribe and have it delivered.

Weekly La Conner High Sports capsule, March 2, 2011

Braves Raves

By Amylynn Richards

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

The boys’ basketball team is in Spokane today, ready to battle for the Washington State 2B State Championship title.  The first game will take place on Thursday, Mar. 3 at the Spokane Arena; the Braves take on Northwest Christian High School.

Northwest will have the “home-court advantage,” as that high school is a mere 13 miles away from the Arena. The boys would certainly appreciate some hometown faces to cheer them on to victory against the Northwest Christian team, which is currently rated number one in the 2B state division, and boasts a 91 percent winning record.  The Braves have an 84 percent winning record and are currently ranked tenth in the 2B state division.

The winner of the first round on Thursday, Mar. 3 will compete again on Friday, Mar. 4 against either Adna or Colfax at 3:45 p.m. The championship will take place on Saturday, Mar. 5 at 9 p.m. Go, Braves!  

Should the boys lose Thursday’s game, the team will have two games ahead of them to win fourth place in State. Should the boys win Thursday but lose Friday’s game, they would compete for third place in State.

The boys played two games last week to get where they are today. The Braves played the first round of the sweet sixteen against Napavine in Longview on Friday, Feb. 25 at 9:15 p.m. Napavine won, 78-58. Coach Scott Novak reports that Mike Wilbur scored 17 points, and senior Kyle McKnight brought in 12 points. 

On Saturday, the Braves played a loser-out game against Riverside Christian. The Braves won 62-53. Landy James was 6 for 6 from the free-throw line, scoring 19 points total for the Braves; Spencer Novak scored 17; and senior Sten Mejlaender scored 10 rebounds.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

The girls played North Beach high school at Mount Vernon high school on Friday, Feb. 25.  North Beach, out of Ocean Shores, won 72-23. “Friday's game was a tough way to end the season after having such a magical week the previous week,” says Coach Marla Quesnell, “every game that we were able to play past the regular season were bonus games for this young team” 

Nikki Finley was the teams’ high scorer with 8 points.  “She did much of the ball handling throughout the game and she played hard no matter what the scoreboard said,” reports Quesnell. Priscilla Ponce-Venegas brought in 5 rebounds.  It was great to be one of the top sixteen teams in the state.  Winning three loser-out games in a row was something we were proud of.  We will take a bit of time off and then start getting better for next season.  Thanks to all the fans who supported us this year. 

 On Saturday, Feb. 26, North Beach faced Darrington.  Darrington won 55-37, and so the Darrington Loggers have survived the sweet 16 and move forward to state competition next week. 

Quesnell looks forward to next year, “We bring back all players, except for our lone senior Samie Miller.” Quesnell said of Miller, “She has meant a great deal to this young team.  She has been a mentor, a role model for toughness and hard work and a lot of fun to be around.  Samie provided instant offense through the season and she also was a calming force on the floor at the end of close games.  We will miss her, but we feel lucky she will still be in the valley and hope she comes back to visit.”