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Show ports A14 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009 Covering what matters most £1H®RT of it A conversation with the tallest and smallest on the Lady Dons basketball team Namon Bills EDITOR More than a foot in height separates the Lady Dons' tallest and shortest basketball players — Erin Redd at 6' 1" and BayLee Cooper at 4' 11 1/2" - but what they have in common is the size of their hearts. Both SFHS juniors love the game of basketball, although they approach it from very different perspectives. Both girls feel confident about their height, and both see advantages and disadvantages to their separate situations. "You always wish you could be whatever height you want. In the end, being tail's great — I don't regret it," said Redd. She does concede that it's hard to find long pants. Cooper, on the other hand, has many shopping options — including the children's section. She enjoys being able to be quick and "sneaky," but she also admitted being short can require extra effort. "You just gotta work a little bit extra," she said. One example: it's hard to reach things. Redd enjoys being the tallest player on the Lady Dons basketball team, but she recognizes that being tall isn't everything. Her favorite quote is, "It's not how big you are; it's how big you play." Redd said part of playing big was learning to block shots without getting into foul trouble. She improved as the season progressed and became a force to be reckoned with in the paint. "It's fun to block people's shots — it definitely gives you an adrenaline rush," she said. As the tallest people automatically look to her for leadership, but Redd said she thinks her role as a team leader is also part of her personality. "I think people definitely look up to me — in both ways," she said. While Redd wasn't the tallest player in the region this year, Cooper was the shortest. It's a challenge for her, but one she enjoys. "When I do drive around someone or shoot over someone, it's a great feeling," she said. Namon Bills / Spanish Fork News See LADY DONS - A13 DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES: Erin Redd and BayLee Cooper represent opposite ends of the height spectrum for the Lady Dons basketball team. Twelve seniors to lead Spanish Fork Dons baseball team John Jackson STAFF WRITER There are two things that you can count on every spring in Spanish Fork, unpredictable weather and a solid baseball team that will again be a favorite to compete for a state title. This year's team has 12 seniors that have been playing together since accelerated baseball made its debut years ago. These seniors did not lose a game as freshmen, and lost only two during the entire summer league season. The seniors will tell you that they have been looking forward to this baseball season since they were little kids. They plan on delivering, and Coach Shoe has made it clear to them that if they don't get caught up in how good they think they are, but focus on playing as a team, the sky is the limit for this talented team. Here is a preview by position: See DONS • A13 John Jackson / Spanish Fork News SENIOR LEADERSHIP: Seniors for the SFHS baseball team, are, front row, left to right, Hadley Thorpe, Taggart Lunceford, Brett Grover, Trevor Randolph, Nate Binks and Greg Money; back row Taylor Brockbank, Chase Castleberry, Brock Duke, Tyler Duffin, Braden Warren and Ryan Ware. |