Goldwater rebuilds, Lady Jags on the rise
by Jason Stone

CAVE CREEK – New coach, same result? Cactus Shadows girls basketball fans are hoping so.

Bill Dolezal left the program in the offseason, but certainly didn’t leave the cupboard bare. Three starters and eight letter winners are back from last year’s team that reached the 4A‑II Final Four and played at Glendale Arena (now Jobbing.com Arena).

Ryan Pletnick inherits the program, which has been slowly on the upswing the last few years under Dolezal.

Guard Sara Pages can almost be considered a newcomer to the team this year after missing almost all of last year with a foot injury. The senior holds school records for points in a game and season and owns the most career steals.

With Pages gone last year, sophomore Alex Easterbrook picked up the slack in her first season, averaging eight points a game and breaking the single‑season record for steals.

Also back in the fold are seniors Rachael Stevens and Kelly Foley. Stevens was a second‑team all‑region pick last year when she averaged seven points and five rebounds. Foley is a three‑year starter, one of 10 players with varsity experience.

Boulder Creek on rise in girls hoops

NORTH VALLEY – The Northwest Region should be a tight fight this season, especially among North Valley teams Boulder Creek, Goldwater and O’Connor.

Theresa Beall got Boulder Creek off on the right foot last year, leading the Jaguars to 13 wins in the school’s first varsity season. All five starters are back from that team, including a class of seniors for the first time.

Among the returners from last year’s Northwest Region fourth‑place team are senior Allison Carter, juniors Nadia Hussain, Tashina Hunter and Ashley Zeek and sophomore Sarah Martin.

Goldwater is undergoing a rebuilding job under coach Stacy Spencer. The Bulldogs will try to improve on last season’s four‑win total.

O’Connor made strides last year as the team finished third in the region and made the 5A‑II state tournament. Three starters are back, including juniors Hillary Bratlien and Kirsten Jenner and senior Avery Fricker.

Reach the reporter at jason@thedesertadvocate.com.