COS women cruise into second round

By Rob McCallum
Published: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 5:13 PM CST
Mt. Shasta News

Sophomore guard Chelsea Kuehner, left, was one of five Eagles to score in double figures during Saturday's 81-56 romp over Las Positas in a first round state playoff game in Weed. File photo

The first round of the state playoffs looked a lot like the regular season for the College of the Siskiyous women's basketball team.

The Eagles routed visiting Las Positas on Saturday night 81-56 to move one step closer to the state tournament. COS now travels to Foothill this Saturday in Saratoga.

“This is probably the best team we've had here by the margins we're beating people by,” coach Tom Powers said. “Hopefully we can continue that in the next round.”

Siskiyous (27-3) used their usual barrage of 3-point baskets, points off turnovers and fast-breaks to wear down the No. 12 seeded Hawks. COS hit 11 3-pointers and forced 21 turnovers.

“We did what we normally do,” Powers said. “Everybody was doing things to contribute, scoring points in bunches.”

Five Eagles reached double figures, including 16 points for sophomore Katie Pollak and 15 for freshman Karlee Myers. Amanda Harris, Chelsea Keuhner and Kristi Arness scored 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Harris had a double-double with 13 assists, just three shy of the school record.

Siskiyous had their largest lead at 42 points, exploding out of the lockerroom from a 47-25 halftime lead. Las Positas did make a 25-8 run late, but it only cut the final deficit to 25 points.

The Eagles opened the game on a 25-9 run, but Las Positas cut the deficit to 8 late in the first half with a run of their own. That's when COS scored 17 of the game's next 18 points to go up 47-25 at halftime.

In that span, the Eagles also got the Hawks in foul trouble as Donisha Tate, one of the state's top rebounders, picked up three in the first half. COS

“We were able to frustrate them a bit,” Powers said. “They outrebounded us, but on the other end we weren't missing much.”

Siskiyous faces Coast Conference champion Foothill on Saturday at 7 p.m. The No. 4-seeded Owls eliminated Butte 65-52 on Friday.

“Foothill is a very athletic team,” Powers said. “They're a better team than Las Positas but they do the same sort of things - hit the boards hart and run. They press kind of like we do. I'm hoping we do a better job than they do.”

The Eagles and Owls have been perennial teams in the state and Northern California polls all season, but a loss to Lassen on Jan. 18 likely cost COS a higher seed and potential second round home playoff game.

Instead, the road to the state tournament in Fresno will go through Saratoga.

“We're looking to continue this run on and make it a year to remember,” Powers said. “Once you get to state, anything can happen.”

Playoff loss ends record-setting year for Eagle women

By Rob McCallum
Published: Wednesday, March 7, 2007 7:30 AM CST
Mt. Shasta News

Sophomore guard Chelsea Keuhner, who had 12 points in the second round loss at Foothill on Saturday, leaves as the school’s all-time steals leader with 285.

Past behavior wasn't the best predictor for Saturday night's Northern California women's basketball state playoff game. The usually hot shooting and high scoring College of the Siskiyous did neither in a 72-62 season-ending loss to Foothill in Saratoga.

The loss left what coach Tom Powers thought was the best team to play at COS one step short of the state tournament in Fresno.

“It's pretty disappointing for us here,” Powers said. “We were probably the better team but they played better that night.”

The Eagles finish the season with an unprecedented 27-4 record, but without a conference banner nor tournament berth to show for it.

No. 4-seeded Foothill extended a 34-28 halftime lead to as many as 15 in the second half. Unlike the regular season, when COS scored in streaks and bunches, the Eagles couldn't put together a rally.

“It was one of those games where we kept waiting to get going and it never happened,” Powers said. “We would put together a few shots in a row, but couldn't get the stop on defense or wouldn't convert the next time.”

The Eagles had one of their poorest shooting night's all season, connecting on only 2 of 21 3-point attempts and were 14-for-25 at the free throw line. The Owls, normally a strong inside team, hit eight 3-pointers.

Foothill committed 25 turnovers and got into foul trouble in the second half, but COS couldn't take advantage, and never pulled closer than 3.

Siskiyous finished one game out of first place in the Golden Valley Conference, and despite being ranked in the top 10 most of the season, won't be traveling to the Elite Eight.

Freshman center Karlee Myers led COS with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomores Katie Pollak had 17 points and Chelsea Keuhner 12.

Pollak and Keuhner, teammates since before high school, leave Weed as two of the top players in program history. Keuhner leaves as the all-time steals leader by far with 285 and is on top 25 lists for points (868) and assists (307).

Pollak was just short of establishing school records in both rebounds (447) and 3-pointers (148). The 5-foot-11 forward shot 36 percent from behind the arc in her two years at COS.

“They were a big part of why this team was so fun to coach and watch and just be around,” Powers said. “I don't know how long it will be until anyone gets close to those records.”

Pollak and Keuhner came to COS together out of Yuba City, and are currently being recruited by several four year colleges.

The game was also the final one for Natasha Robinson, Stacy Sheriff and Jessica West.

The Eagles do return two starters and six lettermen in 2007-08, including all-conference selections Myers, Kristi Arness and another, Amanda Harris, who might have made the team if not for a midseason injury.

“Luckily we have a lot of power coming back,” Powers said. “Hopefully we can reload and make another run at it next year.”

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