By: Mike Glesinger Panhandle Post
To say a team has come a "million miles", might seem like an exaggeration, but in the case of the Alliance Girls basketball team it might be an understatment. Just two seasons ago, the Alliance Girls won just one game. That improved to 7 wins last season and set the stage for a 12 win season this year and a chance to play for a trip to the State Tournament.
The Bulldogs celebrated their season Tuesday night at a team banquet. Head Coach Stephen Crile opened the evening thanking everyone involved in a successful season, especially the two seniors...Bailey Stark and Catherine Bryner. Both Senior girls fought through tears and nerves in their remarks, but it was easy to see they were thankful to be a part of this team. Coach Crile also thanked volunteer Coach Mickenzie Brennan and Coach Heidi Manion gave a special thanks to former Coach Dave Sautter.
Reserve Coach Reve Fries and JV Coach Heidi Manion recapped their seasons and challenged the younger players to keep working and improving. Coach Crile reviewed the varsity season talking about how the team persevered through each game and each week, that sometimes included 3-4 games in a week. Through it all Alliance went 12-12 and played in a District Final, finishing as the runner-up, but just one game away from going to State.
Coach Crile, Coach Manion, Coach Fries and Coach Brennan presented the team awards voted on by the players and coaches.
Hustle Award: Reserve-Rozlyn Wills. JV-Kayel Lambert. Varsity-Jaelynne Clarke
Most Improved Award: Reserve-Rozlyn Wills. JV-Miah Peters. Varsity: Haylie Winter, Ciara Hudson
Best Teammate Award: Reserve: Rozlyn Wills. JV-Alexis Libsack. Varsity: Regan Braun.
Team Captain: Reserve- Addison Weber. JV-Haylie Winter. Varsity-Bailey Stark, Jaelynne Clarke.
6th Man Award; Reserve-Giselle Gonzalez, Alivia Osborn. JV-Addison Weber. Varsity-Haylie Winter
Defensive MVP: Reserve-Miah Peters. JV-Kayel Lambert. Varsity-Ciara Hudson
Offensive MVP: Reserve-Addison Weber. JV-Regan Braun. Varsity-Catherine Bryner
Team MVP: Reserve-Addison Weber. JV-Haylie Winter. Varsity-Jaelynne Clarke. Jaelynne Clarke also set a school record for steals in a game with 11 and tied the school record for steals in a season with 109 and finished the season with over 300 points, 200 rebounds and 100 steals.
Coach Crile, Seniors Bailey Stark and Catherine Bryner and teammates Ciara Hudson and Jaelynne Clark join Mike Glesinger for a Post Podcast interview. Click on the arrow above to hear the interview.
