Former NKHS AD leads 2007 All-Kitsap girls team

It’s been a fickle year for Kitsap County prep girls basketball. From North Kitsap storming in like a lion and lambing out before the playoffs to the Olympic High School Trojans’ resurgence from a one-win season two years ago to the Olympic League championship, 2007 had it all.

It’s been a fickle year for Kitsap County prep girls basketball. From North Kitsap storming in like a lion and lambing out before the playoffs to the Olympic High School Trojans’ resurgence from a one-win season two years ago to the Olympic League championship, 2007 had it all.

Throughout the ups and downs and right on into the final countdown as a few teams ready for state tournaments this coming weekend, the Kitsap News Group has followed the girls and the games searching for the play makers and mental generals. From the stats and recollections of the season, the 2007 All Kitsap News Group girls basketball team has been forged.

The prestigious crew is led by former North Kitsap High School athletic director, now head coach at Olympic, Al Gleich.

Coach of the Year — Al Gleich, Olympic — Gleich has been turning around Olympic’s program for two seasons, taking a single game two years ago to the Olympic League championship and a berth in the 3A West Central-Southwest Bi-District Tournament. This year, the Trojans were undefeated in league play, finishing as the top Oly League defense. Now, The Trojans are in pursuit of a state berth. But what really makes the turnaround incredible is that most of Gleich’s players excel in soccer, softball or volleyball, playing basketball as a “fun sport.”

Staring Five

G — Brittany Gray, Bainbridge — The sophomore had a breakout season, averaging 16.7 and 10.6 rebounds per game despite missing a few games with an illness. She’s one of just four players to average a double-double for an entire season in school history and was among the top 10 in 3A in scoring for most of the season.

F — Candace Grettenberger, Bremerton — Grettenberger, a senior, was arguably the most prolific rebounder in Kitsap County. She finished the 2006-07 season averaging a staggering 13 rebounds per game. In addition, she was the Knights’ second-leading scorer, pouring in 12.5 points per game. Grettenberger’s extensive knowledge of the sport and leaping ability paid huge dividends all year long. Even though she’s only 5-feet, 7-inches tall, her height didn’t stop her from dominating opponents.

F — Megan Spence, King’s West — Megan Spence was a scoring machine for the King’s West, averaging a team-high 19.2 points per contest for a Warrior team that advanced to the state tournament. The junior worked tirelessly in the offseason on her outside shot and it paid off. Spence’s combination of skills in the post and on the perimeter made her virtually unstoppable in SeaTac League play. Spence has scored more than 1,000 points in her King’s West career thus far. She went over the 1,000 point plateau in a game against Seattle Lutheran on Jan. 12.

F — Shawntell Bradford, Olympic — Bradford stepped up big for the Trojans in their run to the Oly League title. Standing just 5-6, Bradford, like Grettenberger, defied the odds en route to averaging 10.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Bradford didn’t have an easy season, battling illness and injuries as well. Bradford, a junior, will be a key cog in the Trojans’ district run.

F — Chloe Mosey, King’s West — Mosey was a force in the paint, averaging 16.2 points per game for the Warriors in her senior season. Mosey commanded double-teams in the post due to her imposing presence from nearly every team KW faced this year. Mosey turned in a stellar career for KW, going over the 1,000-point mark at the Raymond Invitational in late December.

“Chloe’s a great kid. She’s worked very hard and deserves everything she gets,” Warriors coach David Kerkhoff said. “I wish we could have 10 more players like her.”

Mosey’s strength and size (6-feet tall) in the post allowed her to physically dominate pretty much every opponent she faced.

Bench

Dacotah Ettl, Central Kitsap, forward — Ettl emerged late as the Cougs’ top scoring threat in a season in which CK certainly needed one. Ettl, one of three CK seniors, averaged 14.3 points and 9 rebounds per games to help lead CK to an unlikely state berth.

Jacki Hill, Bremerton, guard — Jacki Hill triggered a plethora of fast break opportunities for Bremerton. Hill led the Olympic League in steals and averaged a team-high 14.3 points per game.

McInnis knew Hill was a player he could count on to step up in the clutch.

“Jacki’s the kind of person you want to have the ball when the game is on the line,” McInnis said.

Jade Niemeyer, North Kitsap, forward — In her final season for the Vikings, Jade Niemeyer was a distinctly determined and depended upon leader. She displayed the virtues of hard work and desire to North Kitsap’s bevy of underclassmen in 2007. Scoring steadily, Niemeyer averaged 10.7 points per game and hitting the boards, grabbed an average 8.7 per game. She also pilfered 36 steals on the season and blocked 18 shots.

Kelsey Anchors, Olympic, guard — A junior Anchors was one of Oly’s top shooting threats this season, averaging 10.9 points and a team-high 3.3 assists for the Trojans. A top defender as well, Anchors put up 2.3 steals a game in helping lead Oly to districts.

Shannon White, Olympic, guard — White, one of Oly’s leading seniors and top overall athletes, scored 10.9 points per game, averaged 3.2 assists and had 4.1 steals per game. Even more, she returned from a knee injury to post 18 in a district-opening win against Evergreen.

Caitlyn Salo, Bainbridge, guard — The senior missed some games with an ulcer near the end, but she ran the point well, averaging six points and 4.1 assists per game.

Emily Farrar, Bainbridge, forward — This junior is as tough as they come as she scored nearly ten points per game this season, taking over the scoring burden when Gray was out sick. She is the Spartans’ top three point shooter as well.

Honorable Mention

Tori Fairweather, South Kitsap, guard

Naomi Abad, Bremerton, guard

Megan Kreifels, King’s West, guard

Megan Burris, Bainbridge, center

Nicole Buhl, Olympic, forward

Kim Kummer, Central Kitsap, guard

Jenna Adams, Klahowya, guard

Darcy Hughes, North Kitsap, wing — Scoring a total 141 points in her sophomore debut season, Darcy Hughes was the second-leading scorer for a Vikings team that seemed to be gathering its feet. Though North missed out on the playoffs because of a late-season slide, Hughes experience as a starter should pay dividends next season.

Stephanie Osterdahl, South Kitsap, forward

Gina Ogazi, Bremerton, forward

Irene Moore, King’s West, guard

Lindsay Bratonia, Bainbridge, guard

Pepper Fanua, Olympic, guard/forward

Melinda Pfaff, Central Kitsap, guard

Danya Mares, Klahowya, forward

Leah Siem-Brown, North Kitsap, guard — In her senior season, under the leadership of her former JV coach, Siem-Brown flourished throughout the season and at the end of the year she set an NKHS school record for most three-pointers in a game with six.

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