Skylights set lofty goals for 2004-05 season
By Ryan Divish/Havre Daily News Sports Editor/rdivish@havredailynews.com
For the first two years as head coach of the Montana State
University-Northern Skylights basketball program, Mike Erickson almost needed
to pass out name tags to go with all the new faces donning Skylight practice
gear.
In all, Erickson brought 26 new players in those two years, which meant much of
the early season was spent just having the players get to know each other and
getting used to playing together.
Not this season. Erickson welcomes back seven players and three redshirts from
last year's squad that finished 21-13 and advanced to the semifinals of the
Frontier Conference tournament in
The Skylights already own a win on the season, but really kick the season into
high gear when they travel to the
"The last two years we spent so much time just getting comfortable playing
together and finding the right combinations on the floor because we had so much
turnover," he said. "This year we return our largest group of players
since I've been there."
Obviously, the familiarity is there among the 10 returning players, but
Erickson was happy with the progress they made in the off-season in terms of
strength, conditioning and overall maturity.
"They really made some strides in the
off-season to become better players and a better team," he said.
It wasn't for lack of motivation. By Erickson's and his players' standards,
last season was somewhat of a disappointment. The Skylights battled
inconsistency all season, particularly early on.
"We just could never find that consistency all season," he said.
"It seemed like we played with no enthusiasm at times and had no real
identity of what we wanted to do, or who we wanted to be."
Still, most teams will take 20 wins in a season, and Erickson won't trade them
back. And in those wins, there were plenty of highlights for the Skylights.
Northern won six of its final eight games of the regular season, including
weekend sweeps of UM-Western and Montana Tech, and
The run ended there as the Skylights were drubbed by UM-Western 80-54 in the
tournament semifinals. It's hardly how Erickson or his team envisioned ending
the season.
"To end the season with the worst game of the season was a real
letdown," Erickson said. "But I feel it may be a great reminder to us
of how hard we have to work and that winning in this league does not just
happen overnight."
And winning the league is precisely the Skylights' goal this season.
"We really expect to be in the run for a conference championship and a
chance to travel to the national tournament this season," he said.
"With the right attitude, the right work ethic, we could give ourselves a
chance to be in that position."
Among the returnees are six players who started games last season, led by 6-4
senior Megan Valgardson, the Skylights' lone senior.
Valgardson averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, while earning
all-conference honors.
She will be joined up front by Michele VanDyke, who averaged 6.3 points and 4.1
rebounds per game last year, and midseason transfer DeLayne Johnston. The 6-1
Another key returnee is sophomore forward/guard Jessi Reome, who led the
Frontier in three-point field goal percentage as a true freshman. Reome, who
came back in terrific shape this season, is a deadly shooter and averaged 10.4
points per game, while sinking 68 treys for the year.
Northern returns plenty of talent at the guard position as part-time starter
Kristie Pullin and backup Jena Heggem both return. Pullin has been in the
program longer than any player. She brings defensive scrappiness and some
flashy passing. Pullin averaged 4.2 points and dished out 84 assists last
season. She also picked up 41 steals and is a pesky defender. Heggem showed
tremendous poise as a true freshman last season, backing up both guard
positions. She is a quality outside shooter and at 5-10 is tough for smaller
guards to defend.
After being forced into action as a true freshman last season, Sheena
Darlington will redshirt this season in hopes of diversifying her game and
becoming more of an outside shooting threat.
Northern should get immediate help from its talented trio of red shirts from
last season. Center Ashley Trulock will provide another big presence inside.
The 6-4 Trulock is very strong and will be a force inside on offense and
defense.
Guard/forward Heather Riener brings versatility and athleticism to the
Skylights. At 5-10, Riener is quick enough to play guard, but still strong
enough to play forward with her penetrating style of basketball.
Northern will also get quality minutes from guard Laura Keaster, who is one of
the Skylights' top defenders and a solid three-point shooter. Keaster can play
both guard positions comfortably.
Add to the 10 returnees three solid junior college recruits, and Erickson feels
he has a recipe for success.
Jaci Heny averaged 15 points and three assists a game and earned all-conference
and all-region honors for
Also joining Northern is transfer guard Ashlie Griffin, who comes to Northern
out of Otero Junior College in La Hunta, Colo. Griffin is another deadly
three-point gunner, shooting 48 percent - sixth in the nation - from beyond the
arc while earning all-conference and all-region honors.
Northern's third recruit, Camille Gardner, will also help out at the guard
position.
With the overabundance of guards, Erickson makes no bones about how his team
will play this season.
"We should be able to play a lot more up-tempo on both sides of the
court," Erickson said. "Everybody is familiar with the style of play
we like to play, and new recruits played that way in previous schools. We
should be a fun team to watch."
Erickson also believes it will be a different team to watch as well.
"I really feel this year the fans are going to see a different Skylight
team from last season," he said. "Not only because of the maturity over
the off-season, but the character of the players. They are quality individuals
that have a desire to become successful on and off the court. Whatever the
upcoming season reveals, I feel we will be a team that plays together, plays
with enthusiasm, and plays with Skylight Pride."
Erickson's staff returns assistant coach Warren Quick and adds new assistant
coach Robin Bogar.