Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Team Wolverette Sets Sites On State Championship

According to members of the Prescott Wolverette basketball team, another state title will soon be housed at Prescott High School.

So far, the team has played in two tournaments. So far, the Wolverettes have won two tournaments.

Their next goal is a second straight district championship, followed by a second consecutive regional crown. But, the ultimate goal of the Wolverettes is nothing less than being the state AA champions.

History was made last season when the girls won their first district title, following this by their first regional trip and victory. Their act ended with a trip to the first round of the state tourney, where the season came to an abrupt end.

Not a single member plans on having this happen again. Jessica Hildebrand said the team got a taste of the state playoffs last year and know what it takes to get there.

She said the Wolverettes can win the state title. "No doubt," she said. "We play well as a team. No one is selfish. These are the main reasons we can go so far. We just need to play like we're supposed to and put our minds to it."

Sophomore sensation Stacy Stockton agreed. "We can go as far as we want, and we want to go to the state finals and win. We have the work ethic. We've made ourselves the way we are."

This sentiment is echoed by senior post player Gladies Gulley. "We can go as far as our hearts desire," she said. "Our motto is `We Believe', and we will win the state.

"We all have winning in our hearts. We work as a team and aren't selfish with the ball or scoring."

Being unselfish and playing as a team is evident to those who have followed the Wolverettes this season. Any member of the team may be the leading scorer on any given night.

Each Wolverette knows her role and plays well within it. However, all have the capability of stepping up their game as needed.

While Prescott has suffered four losses this season, each game was lost the same way. The girls didn't play as a team, and didn't have their collective heads in the game.

Individually, any coach would be more than pleased to have any member of the Wolverettes.

Early in the season, Gurdon Coach Donald Williams proclaimed a state title as a given if he had Prescott's guards -- Hildebrand and Stockton.

Hildebrand is the team's quarterback. She brings the ball downcourt on inbounds plays, and sets up the Wolverette offense. She is also the team's best ball handler.

Stockton is the team's linebacker as a guard. Though one of the smaller members of the squad, she will drive the lanes and do what it takes for the team to score. Stockton is also dangerous from outside, and can boast the best free throw percentage on the season.

Then comes the forwards -- Leslie Hines, Gulley and Laura Culpepper.

Hines is the team's three-point specialist. Any team leaving her open, or not having her closely guarded will suffer. She had a 12 game stretch where she hit at least one three-pointer in each outing.

Gulley and Culpepper make their home in the paint. These two are vital for the team on rebounding, though Gulley has been quite a thief of late.

This tandem makes sure the glass stays clean on both sides of the court. By being such a force inside, the Wolverettes are often able to convert easy baskets offensively, and start the fast break on the defensive end.

Additionally, these two provide plenty of inside scoring, as any team in the 7AA will attest.

Culpepper said the Wolverettes win because they work together and aren't selfish.

"We know where each other are, and are used to playing with each other."

Basically, this is the same team as last year's state tourney team, Culpepper said. "We can go to state and can win. We believe we can win. Everyone on the team says we can win."

Of all the players returning from last year's crew, Culpepper has shown the biggest change in her game, as she now bulls her way inside for rebounds.

She attributes this to spending her summer vacation playing AAU basketball and participating in three camps.

Several members of the team went to basketball camps over the summer, she said, which has translated to wins this season.

The biggest surprise Culpepper had was the team losing four games -- especially the one to DeQueen.

Cecily Butler credits this team with having two ingredients vital to winning -- guts and chemistry.

All season long, Butler has talked about how the team has played as a team. She is not surprised at how the season has progressed to date, though she has expressed concern because her crew hadn't been tested.

Even in the four losses, the Wolverettes weren't really tested. In fact, these losses were due more to what Prescott didn't do than what the other teams did.

The season opening loss to Hope came about primarily because of mental mistakes. The Wolverettes had practiced well, but didn't make the transition from practice to the game.

Lakeside posted two wins against Prescott, but, again, it was mental mistakes which cost the Wolverettes.

In the only conference loss of the season, to De Queen, the Wolverettes were without Gulley and Hildebrand. Gulley was suffering from walking pneumonia, while Hildebrand was nursing a sprained ankle.

Butler said the rest of the team was tentative and showed no intensity in the game.

Oh, but when they play together. The Wolverettes average winning margin has been double-digit all season long.

"These girls feel they have something to prove to the people of Prescott," Butler said. "Girls basketball is a force to be reckoned with, but it's been an uphill battle.

"Things are starting to change," she continued. "People are recognizing them as athletes. They've started winning and have a winner's attitude."

Butler said this team has plenty of heart and doesn't complain about the long practice sessions, including the ones held when other students are home on holidays.

"They can go as far as they want," she said. "If they keep their composure and grit, execute and do what they work on, they can go as far as they want. They know what they're capable of doing."

The team says a 23-4 season record isn't good enough.

The team says an 11-1 conference record isn't good enough.

The team says a second straight district title isn't good enough.

The team says a second straight regional crown isn't good enough.

The team says only a state championship will be good enough.

This is what the team says.