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Show 4 ft. 'Wf 111!! It Tuesday, December 5, 2006 Inside the Womens Basketball Team Starters open up about what goes on off the court Jessica McDonald Staff Writer With seven wins behind them, the Lady Griffin basketball team is on top of their game this season. While their talent is apparent on the court, four of the five starters opened about their most memorable moments and what happens off the court. Elisa Leader, guard Imagine a packed high school gym. The first home game of the season. The first play of the game. Elisa Leader was dribbling the ball down the court. She was alone. The other team was playing a zone, so no one was guarding her. Dribbling past the half court line, Leader went to pass the ball to a teammate on her right. As she passed the ball, Leader tripped on her own two feet and landed on her face. No one was around so everyone knew I tripped myself, Leader remembers. It was pretty embarrassing ... the good thing was that I scored like 20 points that game. Sophomore Leader started playing basketball when she was 8 years old after receiving a basketball for Christmas from her father. 1 started playing because 1 wanted to be just like my dad, she says. He played basketball in high school and would watch it on TV all the time. The LA Lakers are Leader's favorite team and Kobe Bryant is her favorite player. He is dedicated to the game and has true love for it, says Leader. The qualities he portrays, inspires me. One of Leaders most memorable (and less morti-iyin- g) moments in her basketball history was in high school during tne last seconds, of a game. Her team, in the a 3A division, was playing a 4A team that had beaten them several times. It was down to the last six seconds of the game and Leaders team was down by three. Leader ran from the left side of the court to the line. Leader caught the ball from a right three-poiteammatc just as two players were running at her. I shot a fading tnree pointer on one foot with two big girls on mefLeader remembers. The ball made it just as time expired which sent the game into overtime, leaders team won that game and Leader finished with 27 points. While 27 points likely every game. Leader still has her theories to help her win garner. Tins ear Leader has started wearing a white head-ban- d with a pink Adidas logo on it. She says she began wearing it because she thought it would make her look more mom. dating on the court. It pretty much ha.-- , hceoniv my physical trademark, she says nt i-- Jordan Ashley Eckman, guard Senior Jordan Ashley Eckmans career goal is to help children reach their potential. Her soft side for children as a., elementary education major (with a minor in history ) drives her interest in becoming a teacher. But her sweet, caring attitude is lost when she steps onto the court as guard for the Griffins. Even from the time she prepares for a game, she is all business. It all starts with braiding her hair in seven braids--no- w each game. It helps me a trademark--f- or to focus for my game as I braid, Eckman says. And judging from the Lady Griffins record, it must be working. But she hasnt always so many great games as this season. Eckmans most memorable moment happened during a national championship game ypHmgXL; Issue $ p 1 st xpp, i -- l . np-- i when Eckman was a sophomore at Tie College of Southern Idaho. A dead bird fell from the ceiling and almost landed on our head, she recalls. We were the Eagles, so everyone considered it a bad omen, like the Eagles have fallen. She thinks it must have been an omen, since Eckmans team played point-guar- ds poorly from that point on and lost. Janae Hirschi, guard Its fun to read the other teams eyes and tty to pick off passes, sap Janae Hirschi. Good thing, since thats her job as defensive wing for the Griffins. While Hirschi, a junior and secondary' education major, has been playing basketball since she was 6 years old, it was only after joining a Jr. Jazz league by persuasions from a friend in sixth grade she knew it was her calling. After playing Jr. Jazz that year I just knew 1 wanted to play in high school and college, Hirschi remembers. And she has had great experiences since. Her favorite memorv of basketball was when her team beat Car- roll away last year. That win felt as great as her high school state championship win. Even after college Hirschi wants to stay involved with the game as a high school teacher and basketball coach. There is no getting away trom the game, she says. Shannon Evans, point guard Point guard Shannon Evans has played basketball since she could pick one up. She sap her father helped develop her interest by setting up a team for Evans and her friends at an early age, which eventually prepared Evans to play throughout high school. I love to compete and I found that basketball was the funnest way for me to do that, say Evans, a nursing major. Even though Evans has been playing the sport for years, she wears her lucky sports bra and a little something before each game. But its a secret, she sap. Evans best memory of basketball was when she played in a championship basketball game in fourth grade. A tied game with 10 seconds left, Evans made a shot at the buzzer to win the game. I was so happy I started to cry, Evans remembers, but it was the first time I had ever shown emotions in sports and I didnt want anyone to think I was a baby. So I pretended I rolled my ankle and had my dad carry me out. Through all her fond memories of basketball, Evans sap there are some reservations of playing. So far this f T5 f. season Evans said she has received a black eye almost every home game. During her freshman par she broke her nose twice in one month. Playing basketball doesnt do much for my facial features, she sap. Alicia Haberle , guard could not be reached for com- ment a oW as-- a X -- Pi fcj f I j T .p a 1 J?" u. t.Pu-- at - a S&L |