Division championship for YHS girls’ basketball team
CARMEN GEORGE

YOSEMITE HIGH PHOTO
Players on the girls varsity baseball team were (front row left to right): Kyla Ruble, Karras B late, Alyssa Sayre and Sonya Eggleston. (Back row left to right): Ashley Stearns, Petra Hetherington, Emily Richie, Amanda Gordon, Amber Terlesky and Katie Menton

The Yosemite High School girls' varsity basketball team has had an amazing season and a Division III Central Section CIF championship to prove it.

The Lady Badgers took a 47-46 victory against Porterville Panthers for the championship on March 5, leading them into the State playoffs against John Muir High School March 9. The Badgers suffered a 60-32 loss in the State playoff game, but they still hold the CIF championship title. Yosemite improved to a 25-4 season as of March 8.

Varsity girls' basketball coach Gary Blate commented that most teams that are entered into the playoffs have one exceptional player who carries the team all the way. “We have a different player step up every game,” he said.
The winning point on March 5 was scored after Blate decided to play a sideline inbounds play, causing Alyssa Sayre and Karras Blate's defenders to run into each other, enabling Sayre to continue through. Sayre then received a pass from Katie Menton, and then shot and made the basket that would win the game.

The still-determined Panthers made an unsuccessful attempt to inbound the ball back to one of their players, but the pass was deflected by Ashley Stearns. The Badgers ended the game 47-46 and excited YHS fans flooded the court from the bleachers.

“We had tremendous crowd support, I want to thank all the fans,” Coach Blate said.

The YHS varsity basketball team also broke the school record for victories in a season with 25 wins, and almost broke every other record for YHS basketball. The team has no leaving seniors this year and they are expected to come back even stronger next year.
“We've had an amazing season, we've done more than we had expected,” the coach said.

YHS junior Karras Blate was nominated as CSL Player of the Year for her second year in a row and Amanda Gordon was chosen as the CSL Defensive Co-Player of the Year.

Also, YHS varsity basketball players Katie Menton and Alyssa Sayre were nominated for the second team, all league.

“All of the other teams are big dogs,” smiled Coach Blate, continuing, “we're just puppies.” Nevertheless, these YHS pups proved that they know what it takes to be Number One!

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