matilla girls’ basketball means business, and rightfully so as the newly No. 1-ranked Class 3A team in Oregon.
The beauty of this year’s squad is it has no true role player. Eight Vikings can pull off a Diana Taurasi-type night, and nobody is showing signs of relenting their championship intensity.
Simply put, this season is special — so enjoy it, Vikings fans.
For five agonizing years Umatilla (15-1, 2-0 EOL) held predominantly losing records. Then third-year coach Scott Bow arrived, turning dust into gold.
“I think we’ve been underestimated a lot in the past and people didn’t see us really as a threat,” said senior Kassie Kennedy. “That just put fuel on the fire for us.”
Rekindling a flame essentially running on twigs was difficult, but Bow ensured a bonfire. Umatilla nearly upset No. 1 Coquille at state last year for a final-eight appearance and upgraded in all statistical categories this season.
No longer are opponents asking, “Who is Umatilla?” gawking at the thought of facing the underdog. The question likely being uttered now is “How the heck can we beat these guys?”
So far No. 3 Salem Academy is the only team to figure out the latter. The Crusaders steamrolled Umatilla by 17 points on Dec. 29, but the Vikings responded with a five-win tear that included defeating a four-championship dynasty since 2003-04 in Burns.
What separates Umatilla from other great teams is not raw talent or having six seniors, but discipline. Each player put in 73 games this summer, combining to take 10,000 shots and 3,000 by the first two weeks of 2010-11 practices.
During Wednesday’s practice, Bow gave players 12 seconds to complete a sprint. Visibly winded, nobody complained about running it twice even though Bow tricked them: all players made it within 11.3 seconds.
“It’s like track — you have to run a lot,” said senior Catherine Routson.
At least Umatilla’s hard work has payed off. Sitting at No. 1 may feel nice, but the Vikings can not lose sight of what truly matters — the end of March and the school’s first trophy in girls’ basketball.
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