PHOTOS BY CLARE JENSEN
THE YOUNGER GIRLS WARRIORS TEAM POSE AT THE AWARDS BANQUET MAY 26 WITH COACHES KIMBERLY LUKE (RIGHT) AND MELISSA HOWTOPAT (LEFT). Many of the girls were first year players and competed in the fifth/sixth grade league.
Two Puyallup Tribal girls basketball teams were honored May 26 at the Youth Center for their hard work, individual and team growth over their three-month season.
Both girls’ Warriors teams were present at the banquet to receive recognition from their coaches, teammates and parents.
Kimberly Luke and Melissa Howtopat coached the fifth and sixth-grade girls team this year.
This season was a challenge for the team because many of the girls were first-year players. They were also a little younger than many of their opponents.
“All of our girls were in fourth and fifth grade playing in the sixth-grade league,” Kimberly Luke said. The older opponents also had an advantage in that they simply had more experience.
“The teams we played were select teams, which means they played year round. Our girls were first year. It was a big challenge.”
The fifth-sixth grade Warriors didn’t win many games throughout the season, but did take third place at the All-Chiefs Tournament.
“The girls really progressed. They started out really inexperienced and, at the end, we were winning tournements. We gained a lot of confidence,” Melissa Howtopat said.
The coaches stressed that the team’s improvement over the season illustrated what is possible if the girls stick together and continue to play in future years.
Vicky Padron and Alana Hodgsen coached the older girls team of seventh and eighth-grade Warriors.
Following a similar pattern as the younger team, the Warriors had a shaky season but finished strong at the All-Chiefs Tournament. Several of the girls on the older team had a few years of experience under their belts, as well as the advantage of some seasoned players from the boys teams to help “toughen them up” during practices.
“We ended up real good at the All- Chiefs tourney. We had a tough start, but the girls gained a lot of skill – individually and as a team. We had really strengthened by the end of the season,” Alana Hodgsen said.
At the awards banquet, each coach addressed their teams and gave special recognition to the players who came out on top. Special awards were given to best defensive player, best offensive player, coach’s award and team favorite.
