Basketball Season Ends in Playoffs for Chelan
by Dennis Rahm
Both Chelan basketball teams had their seasons come to an end in the opening round of the District 6 playoffs last Saturday at Eastmont High School. The Lady Goats were eliminated by Okanogan 38-29 in a low scoring game in which no Chelan player scored in double figures. Junior Hayley Watson led the team with 8 points. The Chelan squad will lose graduating seniors Ashley Sams and Molly Oswald to graduation but will return a strong nucleus of experienced players led by First Team All-League selection Booh Huddleston.
The Chelan Boys battled hard in their playoff game against Omak but ended up losing 71-64. The Goats were down only two points at the half, but the game turned in favor of the Pioneers who used a big third quarter to take an 18-point lead into the final eight minutes of play. The Goats mounted a furious comeback bid in outscoring Omak 26-15 in the final quarter, but the deficit was too large to overcome. Seniors Connor Wilson, Cade Christopherson and Steve Williams played in their final game for Chelan. Like the Girls team, the Goats will return an experienced corps of players as they look ahead to next season.
All League Teams Announced:
Rob Huddleston CTL Coach of the Year
Caribou Trail League Coach of Year has been awarded to Rob Huddleston of Chelan. The Lady Goats also saw junior Booh Huddleston named first team All-League and junior Katie Rainville selected to the second team. Player of the Year honors went to Cashmere senior standout Hailey Van Lith who in her last game in the playoffs broke the career scoring record for Washington State Girls basketball. Van Lith is one of the top recruits in the nation and will play next year for the University of Louisville.
For the Boys, Chelan seniors Connor Wilson and Cade Christopherson were both named second team All-League. Boys Player of the Year was awarded to Cashmere junior Sam Phillips and Coach of the Year went to Levi Heyen of Cashmere.
