Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolverettes, Coach Earn Honors

Though the Prescott Wolverettes didn't win the state championship this season, it was still a record-breaking campaign.

The 1996-97 Wolverettes can boast the best record ever by a Prescott girl's team at 28-6 overall, along with a 10-1 league mark.

This squad also broke the team record for most points scored in a season with 1,987. The previous mark was 1,804, set by the 1995-96 team in 32 games.

They also scored 60.2 points per game, which shattered this record for the PHS girl's basketball team. The old record was 56.4, also set last season in 32 games.

Coach Cecily Butler's crew this year pulled down 1,001 rebounds, averaging 30.3 per game. This also broke last year's record setting pace, which saw the Wolverettes clear the glass 966 times, with 30.2 per contest.

The '96-97 brigade also set a new record for steals with 321, or 9.5 each battle. In 1984-85, the team set a record with 275 steals, averaging 11.5 in 24 outings.

Records not broken by this year's Wolverettes included the field goal percentage. Last year's team shot an even 50 percent, connecting on 665 of 1330 shots.

In 1993-94, the Wolverettes hit 59.4 percent of their free throws as a team, netting 206 of 347.

The '84-85 squad had the fewest turnovers of any Prescott team with 237, or 9.9 per game over a 24 game season.

The fewest fouls were committed by the 1989-90 crew at 325, or 9.7 each contest for 25 games.

Again, the '84-85 quintet posted the best defense, only allowing its opponents a scant 33.2 points per game, for a total of 797 points in 24 outings.

But, the '94-95 set shot the best from long range, with a 39.5 percent average from three-point land. The team nailed 90 of 228 attempts.

Gladies Gulley broke her own record for field goal percentage at 58.9 percent. Last year, Gulley shot 58.3 percent, netting 109 of 324 shots. This season, she hit 195 of 331.

Kristi Ammons, who played on the 1993-94 team, set the free throw record, stroking 30 of 38, for a 78.9 percent average.

Gulley held the most points scored in a season last year with 409, only to see it shattered by soph sensation, Stacy Stockton. This year, Stockton poured in 483 total points for the Wolverettes. This gave her a record-breaking 14.6 point per game average. The old record was made in the 1995-96 season by Laura Culpepper at 13.6 per game.

Culpepper had the highest point average with 409 last year as well. This mark was not challenged this season.

In 1991-92, Jennifer McLelland pulled down a record 103 rebounds. While her effort was good, it couldn't stand up to Culpepper's effort of 109 this year.

Defensively, last season, Gulley was a force on the board, pulling down 180 boards. This record still stands, though Culpepper broke the team's total rebound record with 284.

Ruthie Blake averaged 4.1 assists per game, with 98, in the 1983-84 and 84-85 campaigns. However, this effort was nothing compared to Jessica Hildebrand's dish total this year at 120.

Wimberly Woodley led the team with 66 steals in the 83-84 and 84-85 seasons. But, her record was broken this season by Culpepper, who swiped the ball a record 76 times.

Kristi Ammons, in 93-94, hit a record 15 consecutive free throws. Culpepper approached this mark this season, but fell short after hitting 12 straight.

Ammons also led the team in three pointers made in 94-95, netting 61, while averaging a record 42.1 percent from three point range that season.

For their efforts on the hardwood this season, Gulley, Hildebrand and Culpepper were named All District on the first team.

Gulley, Culpepper and Hildebrand also earned All Region accolades, while Gulley and Culpepper were named to the All State team.

Gulley has been nominated to the All Star team as well.

Butler, as the team's mentor, wasn't forgotten by the other coaches in the district, as she was named Outstanding Coach of the Year.