PHOTO BY RICK WALTER
RYANN WALDMAN AND THE GIRLS TEAM FINISHED THE SEASON WITH TWO WINS AND GOT INTO A FIRST-ROUND PLAYOFF GAME.
Coach Mark Schelbert figured his boys basketball team would be in the hunt in the Rainier Division of the 2A Nisqually League. Despite losing three of their first four games back in December, Schelbert was confident the team would progress and be playing well together when it counted.
The team has proven him right, finishing the regular schedule with a seven-game winning streak, including two crucial victories over Steilacoom and finishing first in the division with a 10-2 record.
The Fife boys will have a bye in the first round of the district tournament, playing the winner of the Eatonville vs. Sequim game March 4 at Henry Foss High School.
The big turning point in the season came on Feb. 6, when the Trojans got past Steilacoom for the first time, winning 56-38 at home. Steilacoom had been the only team in the division with the talent to match up with Fife, having beaten them twice in January.
The Trojans beat Steilacoom a second time Feb. 17 on the road, 64-48.
The Trojans have developed a good team style of play as evidenced by the balanced scoring in those two games.
In the first game, Cameron Hayes and Dustin Yarrington both scored 12 points apiece, followed by Maazine Butler with eight, Damien Fisher with eight, and Thomas Darnielle with eight.
In the second win over Steilacoom, Justin Downer scored 14, Fisher 12, Butler 11, and Yarrington 10.
“That kind of balance is a good indicator of team play,” Schelbert said.
The Trojans team defense has been impressive as well, holding opponents to about 44 points per game, while averaging about 55.
The Fife girls team will play at North Mason in a first-round game Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.
The girls bounced back with two wins against Steilacoom and Washington to close out the regular schedule with a 5-7 record, after having dropped four in a row.
Shelly Kilcup has led the team in scoring with 17 points a game. The rest of the scoring is spread out evenly among the other starters, Ashley Cole (6.4), Marissa Poole (6.1), Cami Lubereski (4.9), and Ryann Waldman (4.3).
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