Napavine's Mollie Olson (left) and Melissa Lee explain a set play on the whiteboard at Centralia College on Wednesday.
Mossyrock's Lainee Grose shoots a 3-pointer while contested by a Northwest Christian defender during a District 4 2B basketball playoff game in Rochester on Thursday.
Images from Ocosta's 50-47 win over Toledo in a District 4 2B girls basketball tournament game at Rochester on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017.
There’s lots of room for players to move into big roles in the Central 2B League. The 12-team conference posted an All-League list last season with 26 players getting at least an honorable mention nods; 17 of those players graduated.
For the most part, the C2BL’s top teams are replacing key components or rebuilding this season; the biggest exception is Napavine.
The Tigers made the State 2B tournament and lost to eventual champion Davenport on the first day, but return their entire lineup from last season — including All-League first-team picks Mollie Olson and Melissa Lee. Olson averaged 18.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 1.4 blocked shots a game, while Lee averaged 19.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 2.6 blocks a game.
How are they looking this year?
“They’re a year older, and they look pretty good,” Napavine coach Jeremy Landram said. “It’s a pretty nice view, from where I get to stand.”
Outside of the two stars, Napavine’s only player with any varsity experience prior to last season was Becca Snaza; a 60-game summer schedule and a handful of incoming freshmen (Sydney Purvis, Rae Sisson and Vannie Fagerness) give the Tigers a bit more balance.
Can they make it to Spokane for the fourth year in a row?
“Hopefully, because last time it was pretty quick,” Landram said. “The expectations are to play as well as we can in our last game, whatever game that may be. That’s kind of the goal we have every year. Every time we’ve been to Spokane we’ve lost to the eventual champion, so we’d like to change that.”
Wahkiakum, meanwhile, is expected to stay near the top of the league, despite the graduation of league MVP Peyton Souvenir, now playing for Lewis-Clark State College.
“They didn’t lose hardly anybody except for Souvenir,” one coach said. “They won’t have that stud player, but they have five girls on the floor that can shoot the rock at all times.”
Macie Elliott returns at point guard for the Mules, and Maddy Mace, McKensi Fluckiger, Charlie Ashe and Jansi Merz all played big minutes last season.
“Our division will be won by Wahkiakum most likely, but Mossyrock has potential to be pretty good, too,” said one South Division coach. “Wahkiakum plays year-round. They put the time in and run their middle school program strategically so their better eighth graders get more playing time at the high school level.”
Mossyrock, after a few tough seasons, returned to the playoffs last year and is expected to improve on an 8-8 league record with Lainee Grose, Paige Moorcroft, Ava Nelson and All-League second-team guard Stephanie Fried back. The quartet played a big role in the Vikings’ repeat run to the state volleyball finals.
“That’s probably the most athletic squad in the league,” one opposing coach said.
Autumn Moorcroft, a 2013 Mossyrock graduate, takes over as the Vikings’ head coach after a college career playing for Lower Columbia and Evergreen State.
Adna’s moving its role players into bigger roles this year with the graduation of three All-League players (Devanie Kleemeyer, Kenya Lorton and Isabella Elwood). Payton Aselton (4.2 rpg), a sophomore and standout soccer player, is the only returning starter, though Sam Foster and Darian Humphrey both saw plenty of varsity action last season. Abby Kruger, Emily Sliva, Tyas Pannette and Makaela Meister should all have sizable roles on the varsity squad as well.
Toledo returns five starters from last year’s 6-16 squad, and adds senior Alyssa Ewers — injured last season — to the mix. Anna Tauscher led the way last season, averaging 16 points and 7 rebounds a game as a shooting guard, while big things are expected out of sophomore guard Kal Schaplow (9 ppg). Brian Layton, a Toledo product and former boys assistant and middle school coach, takes over as the Indians’ head coach.
In Onalaska, Abigail Bogar (6 ppg, 6 rpg) is the top returning scorer, but the Loggers benefit from three seniors — Alicia Vint, Phoebe Rich and Daynka Nevitt — returning to the court after two years off focusing on other sports. Vint, in particular, is a big addition, as the quick 5-footer will start at point guard. Rich brings speed and rebounding acumen, while Nevitt will play guard. Ady Sabin (5 ppg, 3 steals) and Eryn Duryea (5 steals a game) are both back in the starting lineup as well.
Morton-White Pass returns four starters, including Jacie Dunlap (7.2 ppg) and Taylor Nilius (7.1), to a still-young team with only one senior (Sierra Dotson) on the roster.
Winlock, coming off a 5-15 season, will try to build around tough forward Cheleena Squibb and guard Makayla Allbritton.
Kalama, a state finalist last year, graduated its three top scorers — including All-League first-teamers Parker Esary and Kaelyn Shipley — and will try to rebuild with guard Madison Hull and forward Alicia Tinoco.
Pe Ell will try to build around a young corps of players this year. Freshman Annika Mason has been an early standout for the Trojans.
Note: The Central 2B League was split into North and South divisions last season. Kalama, Mossyrock, Wahkiakum, Toutle Lake, Winlock and Toledo make up the South Division, while Adna, Napavine, Pe Ell, Rainier, Morton-White Pass and Onalaska make up the North division. The divisions, though, are essentially only for scheduling purposes; the standings still include all 12 teams regardless of division.
