Women’s hoops team has a different look this winter

The four sophomores back from last year's women's basketball team that finished with an 18-9 record include Golden Valley Conference All-Freshman MVP Breanne Hands and Asia Hendrix, who was named to the All-Freshman team.

They're joined by eight freshmen and an incoming sophomore who gives head coach Noelle Collier a larger roster that has more height.

Th Eagles started what is expected to be a challenging pre-conference schedule with three wins and a loss, including a pair of blowout victories over Foothill Saturday and Sunday on their home court.

Collier, starting her fourth year as head coach, sees the main early season goal as getting a roster with nine new players to come together while playing high-ranking opponents like San Francisco, Delta, and Skyline. "We want to play well against those powerhouses and make sure we beat the teams we're supposed to beat," she said.

With a team that will have a bit of a different look than last year, Collier appreciated having a full two months of practice before the season to get everybody on the same page. "We want to use our bigs and our quickness, and we're adjusting to having a little more height," she said. "With more players, we'll be doing more lineup juggling. It's a lot of adjustments for the sophomores and newcomers."

Hands, a 5-foot-5 point guard/guard from Yreka, was the only returning sophomore to play in the Eagles' first two games while the others were finishing fall sports. She scored 21 points with 8 rebounds and 4 assists in a season-opening 63-52 win at Mendocino Nov. 2nd.

The other three returning sophomores were back with the team for the Foothill games. Karli Reynolds, a 5-7 guard from Weed, finished volleyball and scored 10 points with 5 rebounds and 4 assists in Saturday's 93-58 win. Hendrix, a 5-8 forward from McCloud, and Lani Jackson, a 5-4 guard from Chiloquin, OR, played against Foothill after finishing the soccer season. Hendrix scored 10 points with 7 rebounds Saturday, and Jackson grabbed 8 rebounds.

Hands shot 10 for 14 from the field and made all four of her free throws on the way to scoring 26 points Saturday.

Tatum Allen, a 5-6 freshman point guard/guard from Orland, scored 13 points against Mendocino and had 4 rebounds and 8 assists Saturday.

Five-seven freshman guard Samantha Freitas of Yreka had 8 points, 7 rebounds, and a team-high 5 assists and 3 steals against Mendocino and 7 points and 7 rebounds Saturday.

Two 5-9 freshmen forwards made big contributions at Mendocino. Grace Hubbard of Etna scored 8 points and led the team with 10 rebounds, including 6 on the offensive boards. Power forward Ella Sannar of Gridley came off the bench to score 6 points and grab 5 rebounds. Hubbard had 5 rebounds Saturday, and Sannar had 8 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.

Alexus Woodard is a 5-10 sophomore from Crater, OR, who played one year at Umpqua. She had 7 rebounds and 5 points at Mendocino and 14 points with 7 rebounds Saturday.

Also in the season-opener, 5-7 freshman guard Trinity Gibson from Shasta Lake had 6 rebounds and 3 steals, 5-7 freshman guard/forward Bailey Branson of Yreka had 2 points and 2 rebounds, and 5-10 freshman power forward Taylar Minnis from Upper Lake had a rebound. Minnis scored 8 points with 6 rebounds Saturday.

Woodard led the Eagles with 20 points while shooting 8 for 8 on free throws and had 9 rebounds in a 75-70 loss at Diablo Valley Nov. 3rd, while Hands, who got into early foul trouble, scored 14 points; Gibson had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists; Allen scored 8 points with 4 assists; Sannar had 7 points and 7 rebounds; Freitas added 5 points and 9 rebounds, and Hubbard finished with 4 points and 4 rebounds.

The Eagles had just nine players against a Diablo Valley team that "shot lights out that day," Collier said.

Also playing over the weekend after finishing the soccer season was freshman guard Abigail Escobedo of Weed.

The last names Hubbard and Woodard are familiar to fans from last year's Eagle lineup. Grace Hubbard is the sister of Halliday Hubbard, an All-Conference player for the Eagles last year. Alexus Woodard is the sister of Kayana Woodard, who was GVC Honorable Mention last year.

The Eagles also lost two other 2022-23 Honorable Mention picks to graduation, Jazmyne Wells and Megan Bennett. Wells is back this year as team manager and on the bench with returning assistant coaches Tom Powers and Jake West.

"Tom and Jake are a huge help working with the girls," Collier said. "I've got a really good group around me."

Of the returning sophomores, Collier said Hands is taking care of the ball more this season and being more of a leader. Last year, Hands finished in the top 10 among GVC players in scoring average, field goals, three-point percentage, three-pointers made, and assists.

Hendrix, who played point guard at Mount Shasta High School, is both "fast and long, a rare combination," Collier said. "She uses her quickness well to get to the basket." Hendrix ranked second among GVC players last year in field goal percentage and offensive rebounds and third in total rebounds.

Reynolds is a good outside shooter who has a quick first step and "does well around the rim," according to the coach. "She has that calm presence that shooters need."

Collier said Jackson has improved and "has a really nice shot coming off the bench."

Tatum Allen will help Hands bring the ball up the court and help on defense, while Grace Hubbard is "tall and long, the opposite of her sister Halliday, but she has the same mentality, always going for it and leaving nothing on the court."

Collier sees good things in the way the Eagle post players are working together and hopes the tough pre-season will prepare them for a conference "that is probably the best in the north. Everybody is tough in the GVC. Our strength of schedule is high this season."

After playing in the Sky Jag Tournament at San Jose City College Nov. 16th to 18th, the Eagles will return home for a Monday evening game against Yuba at 5 p.m. Nov. 20th. Their only other pre-season home game will be Dec. 5th at 5 p.m. against Cosumnes River.

They'll open GVC play at Shasta in Redding Jan. 17th.

By Steve Gerace