Raft River basketball: 2011-12 season recap

In early April, I visited Raft River High School and spoke to coach Garth Steed and a group of basketball players about the girls' recent season. Here is the article that will appear in their first-ever yearbook.

A slower flow

Raft River lost its star player, but others developed

in time to make a respectable charge in league play

 

By Bruce Smith

Matchup

            Success and Raft River girls basketball go hand-in-hand.

            There were high hopes for the Trojans again in 2011-12. The chance of another 1A state tournament berth took a hit when leading scorer Hailey Greenwood moved to Wyoming. However, it also gave others a chance to step up.
            The Trojans didn’t make it to state this year, but coach Garth Steed admitted there was a lot of growth. Raft River finished with a 10-12 record. The team finished tied for first place in the Snake River Conference South Division. A two-point loss to Hagerman in the district tournament ended the year, but didn’t dampen many spirits.
            “Hailey was our point guard. That was a huge loss for us,” said Steed. “We were one player from being a really good team. In 1A, one player can make a big difference.
            “We spent much of the season trying to become a new team,” he added. “We had some injuries and that hurt, and the league was pretty good, too.”
            While Greenwood was tearing it up in Wyoming (she helped her team to a 24-4 record and made the all-state team), the season started badly for Raft River. Three players alternated at point guard and they had to begin by facing area powers Dietrich, Richfield and Declo (who combined to finish 65-14 and Dietrich was a state champion). Steed said that helped prepare them well for
league play.
            “I like to play a tough non-league schedule,” he said. “We played most of them really well and we learned right away just where we were.”
            Echo Hansen made the most of it. Like the rest of the team, she struggled early but recovered. Hansen also had to handle much of the opponent’s defensive focus. Hansen still averaged 16.7 points per game, was honored twice by the local media, made the all-league team and was invited to a postseason all-star game.
            Hansen was Raft River’s only real outside-scoring threat. She hit 30 points twice, and her three-pointer at the buzzer against Grace was the team’s best highlight of the year.
            “That was a great event to watch,” said Steed. “To see the crowd and kids celebrate after that win is what I’ll always remember.”
            Steed said Raft River’s record didn’t concern him because he saw constant improved. He thought the team’s best effort came a week later. The Trojans treasured the momentum the Grace victory created and local support was at its peak.
            Their next game attracted another big crowd, as well as a reporter and photographer from the Twin Falls Times-News.
            This time, Wynter Holtman scorched the nets for 18 points and Hansen had 13. The defense, led by Sammie Montoya, was the real story. She put the clamps on the Pilots’ Karli McHone and that led to the 44-32 win.
            Holtman, a junior, averaged 12.1 ppg and was among the team’s top rebounders. After Christmas, she really came on, scoring in double figures each time. She also was an all-league player.
            “Wynter really stepped up, especially when I was having a bad game,” said Hansen. “She and I had been friends a long time and we played well together. She helped us win a lot of games.”
            Montoya, Taylor Whitaker and Sydney Hitt also had their share of good games. Steed said Megan Jones, Marka Baker and Taryn Whitaker came off the bench and played well.
            The Trojans won five of six games at one point and went into district following a narrow 38-36 loss at Hagerman. Despite a 5-1 league record, they earned a tough draw in the first round at district but thrilled the home crowd again with a 31-30 win over Shoshone.
            Overall, the Trojans were able to get over the loss of Greenwood because too many good things happened without her.
            “I would have loved to see what we would have been like with her, but that’s all over now,” Steed said. “The girls came together this season and blended well. We’ve got a good program here. We’ll learn from this and get ready for next year.”