Glenns Ferry basketball: Jade Gorrell profile

In early April, I interviewed Glenns Ferry's Jade Gorrell, who excelled in basketball and rodeo. Here is the article that will appear in this year's Glenns Ferry girls basketball yearbook.

Jade Gorrell:

Her competitiveness and athletic skills
led to basketball and rodeo success

By Bruce Smith

Matchup

             Jade Gorrell’s high-school career was a busy one.
            After growing up in Glenns Ferry, she moved from Gooding in seventh grade but returned after her sophomore year and instantly became an important part of the Pilots’ basketball team.
            She wasn’t tall (5-foot-2), but she was quick, athletic, competitive and sported a feisty attitude. Those traits played a role in almost everything she did.
            When she wasn’t on the court, she was active in other school activities.
            And when she was away from school? That’s easy. She was probably on a horse.
            “I love rodeo,” she said. “I do everything. Last summer, I couldn’t go to the Walla Walla (Wash.) tournament with the team because I was getting ready for state. Basketball was fun, but rodeo is what I do best.”
            Basketball, however, is a team sport and Gorrell was needed. She played in every game as a junior as Glenns Ferry turned around its program with a 16-8 record. She averaged 7.0 points per game and had a high of 15 points against Castleford.
            She moved into the starting lineup as a senior. Her average increased to 7.9 ppg, and so did her importance. Gorrell, Karli McHone and Sara Arellano gave the Pilots an impressive scoring combination and prevented opponents from focusing on a single player.
            “Last year was exciting at the beginning, but was depressing at the end,” he said. “Our season (record) wasn’t as good (this year), but we made it to state. That was always our goal after last season ended. It was a fun ride.”
             Gorrell was all over the court and was given the team’s “hustle” award at its postseason banquet.
            She easily led the team in steals and was second in assists and rebounding. She had 19 points against Oakley, 15 vs. Shoshone and scored 12 points in the Pilots’ 62-49 victory over Cascade that put them into the 1A Division 1 state tournament.
            “There were a couple of games where we got a lot of points turnovers and that gave us a lot of momentum,” Gorrell said. “It allowed us to pull off some victories.
            “Cascade was an important game,” she added. “They had a girl who posted me up. She could dribble with her left hand. We had the lead the whole game, though, and coach took us (the starters) all out at the end.”
            Gorrell said she didn’t feel like she played as well at state, but it was still a highlight. She had some good memories and was proud of the team’s accomplishments.
            “I remember the (public address) announcer and he was the best I had ever heard,” she said. “It (the tournament) was different than what we had experienced in our tiny town. It was great to win there. Afterward, we had some hop in our walk.”
            The lowlight? That’s easy. Playing against her former Gooding teammates seemed surreal. In the first game – at Gooding – she picked up three quick fouls and eventually fouled out in the Pilots’ 55-40 loss. Three weeks later, though, she had eight points, four steals and two assists in a 61-55 victory.
            “I knew all the girls there (on the team),” she said. “The second time we played them was a lot more fun.”
            Gorrell remained active after the season. She was a big fan of the Glenns Ferry boys team, and cheered them on as they won state. She also traded in her tennis shoes once again for cowboy boots. In the future, the boots are likely to get more use.