The Columbia Gorge Basketball Academy is opening the doors for its first girls’ traveling team with a tryout session slated to run from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10 at The Dalles Middle School.
Girls in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades, from across the gorge are welcomed to attend.
Conduting the tryouts are coaches Ryan LeBreton and Stephen Stewart.
The program’s long-term goal is to increase the fundamentals of the game of basketball with some travel games in the Portland area and beyond.
The team will travel for five weekends between November through February for doubleheaders.
There are no overnight tournaments planned.
Cost to participate in the academy is $120 and will only be paid if an athlete is selected.
At the tryout, attendees are responsible to bring basketball shoes, have their hair in a pony tail and a water bottle.
LeBreton said the team is looking at a multiple set of skills, ranging from dribbling and ball handling, to passing, shooting form, speed and quickness, and an overall understanding of the game of basketball.
Le Breton plans to carry 10-12 kids for the fifth and sixth grade team.
Fourth graders are welcomed, but they will be competing against an older group.
Like the CGBA facebook page for more information, or call LeBreton at 541-980-9889.
With a chance to extend their season another week, the Dufur Rangers could not find any continuity or flow in their three-set 1A state playoff loss to Crosshill Christian Saturday in Turner.
Overall, Dufur converted on 78 percent of its serves with nine errors, and the team also managed 13 kills, but committed 15 hitting errors and added a passing average of 1.56.
“Crosshill played well and we weren’t able to adjust to their offense or their gym,” said Dufur head coach Jody Weaver. “I also think nerves played a big part.”
Crosshill came through in the opening set with a 25-12 margin to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Eagles then tacked on a 25-8 win in the second set, before completing the sweep with a 25-19 margin in the third set.
“We had a lot of miscommunication in the first two sets,” Weaver said. “At least they came back and played hard in the third set. It was a good way to go out.”
Chloe Beeson had five kills, four aces, two assists and a block, Alexus Outlaw added 12 digs, Kalie Ellis went for three kills, one ace and a dig and Mikayla Kelly was good for a kill, an ace and a block.
Sydnee Byers had a kill and two digs, and senior setter Sydney Reed notched three kills, four assists and four digs in her final high school game.
Dufur started the 2016 volleyball season with four consecutive losses, all in sweep fashion, but then rebounded with a five-match winning streak from Sept. 23 to Oct. 6 to vault up to the top of the Big Sky Conference standings.
On Oct. 22 in The Dalles, the Lady Rangers swept through South Wasco County in their district tournament opener, but then lost to Arlington by sweep in the championship.
Dufur then swept past Damascus Christian in a state sub-round match on Oct. 26 to set up Saturday’s second round match.
“I am proud of my girls. They improved a ton throughout the season,” Weaver said.
The Lady Rangers posted a 15-13 overall record and went 11-3 in league action, finishing with a No. 12 ranking.
Dufur fielded a relatively young roster of five freshmen, one sophomore, three juniors and two seniors, including libero Emily DePriest and, Reed, the Big Sky Conference co-Player of the Year.
Dufur does return a solid core group in Byers, Outlaw, Ellis, Kelly, Haili Wolf-DePriest and first-team all-league hitter Chloe Beeson, so there are skill players available for Weaver and assistant Megan Neuberger.
“We are definitely going to miss Sydney and Emily, but I am excited about all the girls we have coming back and the ones coming up,” Weaver said. “We need to work on our confidence and self-esteem. I am hoping some time and maturity will help, plus I am already making plans for some early team bonding for next year.”
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