Wilsonville Spokesman Online

Column: Can the Wilsonville girls make the trip to Eugene?

WIldcats look to make return to the Class 5A state tournament, and have a good shot at it

• By: Alex Tam  
• Published: 3/4/2010 12:57:52 PM

Photo By: File photoGirls basketball: Alyssa Clark
Wilsonville sophomore Alyssa Clark (left) and the Wildcats will host either Dallas or Mazama on Friday in the first round of state playoffs.

They have undoubtedly been the best team in the Northwest Oregon Conference this season.

And after not having lost during this calendar year, the Wilsonville girls basketball team looks to continue its streak on Friday in the Class 5A state playoffs.

The Wildcats will take on either Mazama or Dallas on Friday night with the winner advancing to the OSAA Class 5A state tournament in Eugene next week.

Wilsonville easily cruised to the Northwest Oregon Conference championship, going undefeated at 14-0.
The Wildcats finished the regular season with a 20-4 record under coach Cindy Anderson.

And they have been impressive doing it.

Wilsonville capped the season with an easy 56-29 victory over Sherwood in the season finale on Feb. 24 on the road.

Despite playing five of its final six games on the road, the Wildcats won all five road games by an average margin of 32 points.

It's a team that has prided itself on length, quickness, size and the versatility to play any style of game.

Fast or slow, up-tempo or grind-it-out, Wilsonville has simply answered every challenge presented to it this year.

The Wildcats have a stellar inside game with senior post Ashley Walters, who is headed to play at University of Idaho next season.

They have fellow post player and junior Kellie Krueger, who has broken out and shined this year as the team's leading scorer in several games.

Senior Megan Arnoldy has been a dominant post player in the past for Wilsonville, but has made the transition to the perimeter as a wing and has undoubtedly been one of the team's leaders.

If teams converge inside, the Wildcats have the ability to knock down the outside shot led by junior Emily Dungey, who transferred from Lakeridge.

Sophomore Alyssa Clark has also done a splendid job taking care of the ball at point guard and initiating the offense, improving a great deal since her freshman campaign.

Add to that a roster that can go 10 deep, and Wilsonville has a good shot at qualifying for the Class 5A state tournament in Eugene and make a run at the program's first state championship since 2002 when Anderson guided the Wildcats to back-to-back state titles.

All of the ingredients are there with key senior leaders, as well as a group that has quickly meshed together well with underclassmen.

How far will Wilsonville go? The beginning of that answer will be found out Friday.

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