Behind returning all-leaguer Katie Rathgeber, Stevenson has its eyes on challenging for a league title. (Alisha Jucevic/The Columbian)
Is this the year the Stevenson Bulldogs make a run at a league title? On paper, it certainly looks possible.
The Bulldogs return all-league guards Katie Rathgeber, a 5-foot-5 senior, and Cassie MacNab, a 5-5 junior. With so much turnover in the Trico League, Stevenson has high hopes with those two running the show.
“We should have enough players back that we contend pretty well,” fourth-year coach Bob McCrum said. “It’s exciting and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
The Bulldogs finished 15-8 and tied for second in the league. They also topped La Center in one of the teams’ two meetings. It was their first win over the perennial league favorite in six years.
“That was definitely a high-water mark for us,” McCrum said.
Jazmine Morat, a 6-foot post, is poised for a breakout year and Ashley Brannan, a 5-9 forward, will start for Stevenson.
“We’re going to try to put on pressure and push the pace at all costs,” McCrum said. “We don’t have tremendous size, so we’re going to have to out-run teams.”
Early on in the season, the Bulldogs impressed with their ball movement in wins over Kalama and Lyle-Wishram.
“They know each other well enough where they can anticipate where they need to go to get the ball,” McCrum said.
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