Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolverettes Prepare For Season

By JOHN MILLER

Last season, the Wolverette basketball team did the unexpected.

It made its first trip to the state playoffs.

The fact the team won the 7AA district tourney and regional contest as well were astounding feats in and of themselves.

At the beginning of the 1995-96 season, the Wolverettes were expected to finish about .500 and fare reasonably well in the district tournament. They were also expected to make the trip to regionals, but not win the event.

They were a group of overachievers. A group refusing to fail and overcoming all adversity.

But they were the underdogs last year. This season, the Wolverettes are expected to repeat their late season heroics because the team only lost two seniors (Ashelea Stewart and Lori Burke) and returns the core of its state tourney squad.

While the Prescott girl's basketball team is being picked to finish at the top of the heap again, Wolverette Coach Cecily Butler said everyone in the league will be gunning for them, playing their best ball against the Prescott crew.

And, they'd better be ready to play the best game of their prep careers when they tangle with the Wolverettes. Butler said several of the girls spent their summer practically living on the basketball court.

Many attended camps across the state, working to improve their games, while others were playing with AAU teams, honing their skills.

The girls, however, are not talking about last year's accomplishments, Butler said, they are looking forward to the opening of the 1996- 97 campaign on the hardwood, focusing on another trip to the state tourney, where they plan on going further than the first round.

Butler said the girls have picked up where they left off from last season, calling it a continuation from one campaign to the next.

"We have expectations we've never had in the past," she said. "We're all excited, but I don't expect a perfect season."

The team, she said, has a great attitude and is tired of drills. "They're ready for the season. They want to play. You can feel the tension and excitement," Butler said.

The coach gives the credit for last season's success to the girls, saying they knew what they had to do and did it -- especially after being picked to finish somewhere in the middle of the pack in the conference.

This year, Butler said, the girls know what's ahead of them and all other teams will be ready for the Wolverettes. Each game will be a tournament level contest from the other squad. "We can't take anyone for granted," she said.

"De Queen will be strong, and returns most of its players. Bismarck is new in the 7AA and has always been strong. Nashville is always tough and Fountain Lake will be scrappy. Fouke is tall and strong. There will be a lot of competition out there. It's a tough conference."

While the team has been beating up on itself and is ready to tangle with someone else for a change, Butler said all practices haven't been perfect. "We've had some sloppy practices," she said, citing boredom with routine as part of the cause. However, she added, while some practices have been sloppy, the intensity level has never dropped.

Most members of the team, Butler said, have returned with fire in their eyes and are more confident than ever as they prepare for the season.

Gladies Gulley, she said is more confident, which creates an entirely new scenario for the team. Gulley now shoots three-point shots much like short jumpers, with an ease and confidence they will fall regardless.

Stacy Stockton is "old faithful," Butler said. Always working hard, making tough plays, driving the lanes and taking a beating inside.

Laura Culpepper has stepped up into more of a leadership role, and worked this summer to improve her defensive skills in camps, where she won a number of awards for her efforts.

Jessica Hildebrand, Butler said, is the floor coach and point guard. She will lead the team as it races toward the enemy goal.

Leslie Hines, though, is the surprise player of the year so far. Hines, Butler said, came in a completely different player from the one who left last season. She drives the lanes, takes more shots, runs the floor and rebounds. "She has her head and heart in the game," Butler said, "is more determined and taking it to the hole."

Butler also credited Amber Arney for improvement during the summer, saying she's been doing a good job as well.

The Wolverettes will be running a new offensive set this season, so the films from last year will do their opponents no good.

Something else could be new for the Wolverettes this season. Butler is considering a name change to the Lady Wolves. She said the girls favor the change, but it will need approval by the school board first.

In discussing speed, Butler said the team was fast last year, but is "ate up with speed," this season. Therefore, the Wolverettes, or Lady Wolves, will play an up-tempo offense. Their pace, Butler said, may be similar to the Razorback style of play.

Another problem opponents may have when playing Prescott will be the intelligence of the team. Butler said her crew is not only basketball smart, but are academically good students as well. Most members have grade point averages above 3.5, with some posting GPAs of 4.0. "They're a smart group," she said.

One area the team will have problems itself is rebounding. "We're not as tall as we were last year," Butler said. "We need to improve our rebounding and work on controlling the ball. We have to learn to pace ourselves."

She said the Wolverettes were beat in the first round of state tourney play because their opponents were able to slow the game down, which hurt Prescott.

This season, Butler is working to get the girls ready to play any style of game their foes throw at them -- and win.

"We know it won't be easy," she said of repeating as district and regional champs. "We have a few more things to put in and smooth out, but we'll be ready."

With the Wolverettes looking to be "ready" this season, all others in the 7AA may need to be playing for the runner-up spots if they plan on post season action.