Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009

Kennewick season wrapup

By Rocky Morrow, Herald staff writer

Kennewick coach Oscar Garnica is still amazed not only with the Lions’ second-place finish at the 4A state tournament this past weekend, but also the team’s overall growth throughout the year.

“To see them start out individualistic and then come together as a team in the end was an awesome feeling as a coach,” Garnica said. “We held our tears back.”

Garnica said he’s looking forward to next year, so much so that he sought out resources to include the JV squad in state tournament experience.

“I was able to take the JV’s up there. That’s not happened before, I got some money from the booster club to do that, to get them the extra experience.”

Garnica expects juniors Whitney McGary and Dacia Bolt to step up to full varsity next year, joining sophomores Ashlen Ayers — a varsity alternate this season — and Brittany Blackketter.

“She’s got some big shoes to fill,” Garnica said of Brittany. “Her sister (senior Amanda Blackketter) was our stable anchor.”