Lady Trojans heartbreak at home

By HOPE NEALSON The Western News

The Trojans' chance for a spot in Divisionals was squelched in a loss against Plains Wednesday night, 51-32, despite a season best of 22 points for Molly Harpole.

The 7-12 Trotters took control early on, with a trio of double digit scorers helping Plains to 27-8 at the half.

"The other team was hitting the boards more and making the baskets and we couldn't stop them," said JV Trojan coach Sheila Etienne, who filled in for former varsity coach, Troy DeBoard.

"They are just the kind of team that never gives up and they stayed in there," she added.

DeBoard resigned from coaching last month on doctor's orders; he has also resigned from his teaching position for next year.

"I have recently and unfortunately been advised by a physician to step away from coaching due to my current health. My sincerest regrets go to these wonderful young ladies who I have the greatest admiration for - as well as their parents and my coaching staff at Troy High School," he said of his departure.

"From the very beginning until he stepped down, he's been good for the team," said Etienne. "They've learned a lot and they're not quitters."

The Trojans also played two nonconference games last week, topping Arlee, 67-63, and losing to Libby, 45-25.

"They played quite well considering Libby is an A team and we're not. Their coach is a good coach, and they have enough players that they almost have two teams subbing in and out," said Etienne.

"Defensively we played quite well - and offensively too," she said, noting that they held Jackie Mee to 16 points and netted 7 out of 9 freethrows.

Harpole led in scoring for Troy with 11 points; Megan Etienne and Delsey Olds each contributed 5 points.

Against Arlee on the road, three Trojans scored in the double digits, propelling them to victory, 67-63.

Olds led in scoring with 30 points, while Liz Straley contributed 11 points and Harpole scored 10.

The Trojans netted a whopping 23 free throws out of 36.

"We were drawing fouls and just had a desire to win and play as a team," said Etienne of their victory. "Our offense slowed the game down and played at their pace instead of letting the other team run them.

"We just wanted to win more," she added.

She said DeBoard put in a lot of extra hours over the summer, taking the varsity girls to tournaments and working to help them improve, encouraging them to keep at it.

"I've conversed with him and he's helped me out as far as playing different drills," she said, adding that varsity coach Tony Smith has also helped her.

"Other coaches have helped us with coach DeBoard not being there and all, but the girls have decided they wanted to still go on and play."

Etienne added that DeBoard was the main reason she coached JV when he asked her to in the Stein's parking lot.

Little did she know she would be filling in for him as well.

"I stepped in there because it would have been a lot tougher to continue on with someone new who the girls didn't know," she said.

Etienne would like to continue coaching JV basketball next year and hopes a coach for varsity will surface in the meantime.

"What has helped them get this far is the girls sticking together as a team," she said. "It's not going to take just a couple of people - it's going to take the whole team."