[ Coaches | Roster | Outlook | Stats | Archive | Photos | Schedule ]
LADY KNIGHT'S
BASKETBALL 2007-08
STATE CHAMPIONS - 1979-80, 1983-84
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS - 1972-73, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1975-76
1976-77, 1977-78, 1979-80, 1981-82, 1983-84, 1984-85, 1988-89
1999-00, 2004-05

(above) Early Season Team Picture from 2007-08
Guild Commits to Menlo
NAIA SCHOOL PLAYS SIMPSON
(Shasta College-4/24/08) Knights women's basketball coach Jerry Brown said sophomore center Katelyn Guild has verbally committed to Menlo College on Wednesday. Menlo is an NAIA school that competes in the California Pacific Conference along with Simpson.
Stilwell Rides to SF
ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY
(Shasta College-4/18/08) Shasta College sophomore point guard Sondra Stilwell signed a national letter of intent to play for the start-up Division II program Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Stilwell, an all-conference point guard for the Knights who also was a three-time all-section pick attending Shasta High School, is headed to the Urban Knights on a full athletic scholarship. She chose Academy of Art over other schools such as Menlo, Simpson, Cascade and Cal State Maritime. Academy of Art University has been around since 1929 and its enrollment of 9,500 makes it the largest art and design school in the U.S. However, the school is starting up its athletic program with its first year for the upcoming 2008-2009 season at the D-II level. "It felt like they real wanted me," Stilwell said about her decision. "They have high expectations. They want to eventually move up to Division I." For the 2009-2010 season, Academy of Art University plans on joining the Pacific West Conference, which features the likes of Hawaii Pacific, Chaminade and Notre Dame de Namur among others.
Knights Fall Late
TIED 38-38 AT HALFTIME
(Los Altos-3/8/08) Foothill 73, Shasta 65: The Knights made a brave run, but fell eight points shy of a state tournament berth against the No. 1 Owls. Shasta hadn't been to state since finishing runner-up in 2000, but this year came as close as it has been against the top-ranked NorCal team. The two teams were tied at 38 at halftime and the Knights (24-8) trailed by four with two minutes remaining. But the Owls (29-1) made their foul shots down the stretch. Sophomore point guard Sondra Stilwell scored 23 points in her final game as a Knight. Sophomore center Katelyn Guild and freshman guard Lauren Yehle had 12 points each, while Jasmine McIntosh added 10 and Amanda Potts 8. "I'm proud of the team," Knights coach Jerry Brown said. "They battled the No. 1 team in NorCal the whole way, all the way to the end. It's tough to lose, but I'm happy with our performance. The kids should be proud. They represented Shasta very well here."
McIntosh & Potts Ignite Knights
SHASTA OVERCOMES FLU & MODESTO
(Shasta College-2/29/08-Jeffrey Jen) Playoffs aren't necessarily about playing good ball. Playoffs are about staying alive. The Shasta College women's basketball team was harried and harassed into a slew of miscues all game by an aggressive Modesto team. Didn't matter. The Knights, not the Pirates, are moving on. Jasmine McIntosh scored 17 points, and Amanda Potts had 10 points and 12 rebounds despite battling the flu as eighth-seeded Shasta beat No. 9 Modesto 56-49 at home Friday. Freshman guard Janay Wilkinson came off the bench to add 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting. The Knights face the winner of today's matchup of No. 16 Las Positas (19-13) at No. 1 Foothill (27-1) on March 8. The Knights (24-7) average 71.6 points per game, but their offense sputtered against the Pirates' 2-3 zone. Shasta shot 7-of-26 on 3-pointers and Modesto racked up 17 steals in the game. "It wasn't a pretty game," Knights coach Jerry Brown said. "We played like a team that has been sick." But Shasta, which passed the flu around this week, was effective enough on defense -- Modesto was 4-of-21 on 3s -- and won the battle on the boards, 36-32, against a Pirates squad known for its hustle. "We still found a way to win," McIntosh said. "Good teams find a way to win, no matter what." The Knights started off badly on offense with their passes consistently knocked away by Modesto defenders. Shasta had four points in the opening eight minutes of the game, but took a 10-7 lead on back-to-back 3s from Wilkinson and Sondra Stilwell. "They play a much more aggressive zone that we were used to," McIntosh said. "They are long and they keep their hands up and we had trouble getting the ball around them. Everyone on that team is at least 5-8." Still, baskets were hard to come by for both teams and Shasta limped into halftime up 24-23. At that point, Modesto held a 21-19 rebounding edge. That changed in the second half. "We weren't hitting our shots," Potts said. "So we had to step up other aspects of our game. Defending, rebounding, getting after loose balls." One would never know that Potts had an illness all week the way she hustled after balls on several plays, including one time grabbing the ball away from a Pirate off a long rebound almost to halfcourt. "You have to give Potts and McIntosh credit," Pirates coach Mike Girardi said. "They showed why they are all-conference players with the plays they made." Shasta never acquired a double-digit lead, but pushed its edge to nine on several occasions. The last time on a Lauren Yehle steal and layup with 2:30 left to put the Knights up 53-44. Modesto's Sughey Cervantes hit a 3 to cut things to 53-49 with 17.8 seconds left. But Yehle broke the Pirates trap and sweated nine seconds off the clock before getting fouled for a one-and-one. She made one, but missed the next. However, Potts outbattled two Modesto players for the rebound and was fouled. Flu and all, she hit both foul shots to seal the win. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
All GVC Stilwell Leads Knights
POINT GUARD & KNIGHTS FACE MODESTO FRIDAY

Proud Parents, All GVC Point Guard
(Above L-R) Maureen, Sondra and David Stilwell (Sophomore night photo)
(Shasta College-2/26/08-Jeffrey Jen Redding Record Searchlight article) She stands
5-foot-4 and has a high-pitched girlish voice befitting of someone closer to 12 than a 19-year-old woman. Yet, those who run across Sondra Stilwell, the Shasta College women's basketball team's sophomore point guard, always say two things about her. The first is how her tiny frame hides a fierce competitor and a really good basketball player. The second: She's a good hoops player, but an even better person. When it comes to compliments and platitudes, it's hard to find enough to describe Stilwell, who earned all-conference honors on Monday for helping the 23-7 Knights to the No. 8 seed in the Northern California playoffs. Shasta hosts ninth-seeded Modesto (19-12) at 7 p.m. Friday and Stilwell, in the No. 1 jersey, leads the way. The Knights enter the postseason on a six-game win streak and Stilwell, the pint-sized guard with a big game, is one of the principle reasons why. Her numbers -- 12 points, seven assists, three steals per game -- don't adequately describe her impact on the Knights. Team leader, floor general, perimeter threat, ironwoman, that's Stilwell. It's why Knights coach Jerry Brown nominated her for all-state honors, though she missed out on that accolade. "She definitely holds the team together," sophomore forward Cara Hall said. "She's the one that keeps our drive going on the court, but she's always in control of things." Off the court, she may be even more important to her team. "Great kid," Brown said. "She's a coach's dream. She's a 4.0 (grade-point average) student, she works hard, she never misses a practice, a great teammate. If you opened a book and looked for the ideal player you want to have in your program, Stilwell's picture would be in it." Stilwell, who turns 20 on Saturday, may be of the shortest players on the team, but other players look up to her example. "She's an amazing teammate," sophomore center Katelyn Guild said. "She's the first one at practice, she's the first to dive on the ground for a loose ball. She's so cute and tiny, but she's one of the most level-headed people I know. You have to be impressed with her integrity." Except when she gets on the floor. "I am extremely competitive," Stilwell said. "I hate to lose, even if it is a card game." A two-year varsity starter at Shasta High School, Stilwell was named to the all-section team twice thanks to an all-out penetrating style, a penchant for steals and a mean, crossover
pull-up jumper. Current Wolves girls basketball coach Kevin Crye was an assistant Stilwell's senior year. He compares Stilwell to Brody Angley, a boys player he coached in youth travel ball before the former Hornet went on to star at Santa Clara University. "Of all the players I've coached," Crye said. "She's one of the closest to Brody Angley in terms of passion for the game and being
a good person at the same time. She's humble, compassionate, just a good kid." Stilwell played alongside Angley's sister Robyn last year at Shasta College, and it was Robyn who gave Stilwell the nickname of "Little One" - in part due to her size and her No. 1 jersey. Some would be insulted by such a nickname. Not Stilwell, she loves it. Being a part of team and enjoying the competition is what fuels her, not individual recognition. Stilwell has the mentality of a true point. The stat she worries about most is turnovers (she averages two which gives her a healthy 3.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.). Her biggest improvement to her is oncourt decision-making. Her favorite player is Steve Nash, point guard for the Phoenix Suns. "I really like assists," Stilwell said. "When you penetrate and kick out to a teammate for a 3, that feels just as good if not better than scoring yourself. Drive and dish." Coming to Shasta College was easy since she got no offers after high school and she sensed a kindred, competitive spirit in Brown. She admits she has never been pushed so hard before, but it has paid off with improvements to her game in shooting, passing and driving to the basket. Right now, she's fielding offers from Simpson University, Oregon Tech and Cascade College, with more likely on the way.
Her future can be on hold for a little longer, as there's one more goal - helping Shasta through the playoffs. The Knights are two games away from a state tournament berth and, to Stilwell, that would be a nice end to her Knights career. When asked how she wants to be remembered, Stilwell said, "That I was a good basketball player. A good teammate." Someone might want to tell her mission accomplished. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228
or at jjen@redding.com. (Webmaster note- Sondra Stilwell is joined by teammates Jasmine McIntosh and Amanda Potts on the All GVC team.)
Revenge Tour Complete!
Knights Take Down COS
(Shasta College-2/23/08-Jeffrey Jen-Record Searchlight) Momentum. Check. Second-half sweep. Check. A win on sophomore night, over a rival no less. Big check. Now the question is will all that be enough for the Shasta College women's basketball team to get a home playoff game? The Knights held off College of the Siskiyous for a 68-55 victory at home Saturday, to extend their win streak to six games. "Of course we wanted to win," Knights sophomore point guard Sondra Stilwell said. "Especially on sophomore night, on our court and to show that we could beat them." Siskiyous still finished the regular season as co-champions of the Golden Valley Conference with Butte, one game ahead of Shasta. But when Knights head coach Jerry Brown says that his team is playing the best in the conference, it's hard to argue with him. Jasmine McIntosh had 17 points and Amanda Potts added 11 as the Knights (7-3 GVC, 23-7) made sure they weren't swept. After suffering losses to Lassen, Butte and Siskiyous last month, Shasta beat all three the second time around. "It was needed," McIntosh said. "We've been playing really well. It feels like we've got our pride back with these wins." Both teams were cold from the field Saturday. But Brown had more shooters to throw out there than his Siskiyous coaching counterpart Tom Powers. Shasta was 9-of-26 on 3-pointers in the first half, but that was enough to stake a 34-20 lead. The lone Knights starter to score in the half was McIntosh, who hit a trio of 3-pointers for nine points. That was matched by reserves Kayla Hightower and Lisa Taylor, with the sixth-man Potts getting the other seven points. But while the Knights weren't shooting well, the Eagles (8-2 GVC, 23-6) were a frigid 1-of-11 on 3s in the first half. Sophomore guard Kristi Arness, who torched Shasta for nine 3s and 32 points in the first meeting, went 0-for-4 from beyond the arc this time and was held to two free throws. "The one thing we wanted to do was to take away Arness," Brown said. "We didn't want her to have a chance to go off." Sophomore forward Karlee Myers had 16 points, freshman guard Crissy Watts shrugged off an illness to toss in 14 points and Amanda Harris added 12 for Siskiyous, but the shooting woes continued in the second half. Siskiyous went 6-of-31 on 3s for the game, while the Knights were 11-of-40. "It wasn't a pretty game," Powers said. "We didn't come out and play with the energy we needed. The difference was early in the game, they got a lot of rebounds and that led to a lot of second and third chances." Shasta extended its lead to as much as 51-30 with 11:42 left in the game on two free throws from Lauren Yehle. But Siskiyous came out in a fullcourt press and that forced the Knights into a rash of turnovers. "I don't know how we got rattled by their press," Brown said. "Normally, we do good on our press break. But Siskiyous pays you so soft for much of the game, then they come after you and we got caught off-guard." But Shasta got its composure back. A couple of times, the Eagles got to within 11 but McIntosh came up with a big 3 and Stilwell, who started out 1-of-9 for the game, added two midrange jump shots to hold Siskiyous at bay. Stilwell finished with eight points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. Sophomore center Katelyn Guild added 11 rebounds. Both teams are bound for the 18-team playoffs when the Northern California seeds and brackets are announced Monday. A top-eight seed is needed for a home game unless a squad gets seeded 15th or 16th. Brown figures Shasta is anywhere from a No. 8 to a No. 12, while Power thinks his team has a chance to get a No. 6 seed. Play-in games are Wednesday involving seeds 15-18, while the next round is Friday. Should Shasta get a home playoff game for Friday, that would affect the Northern Section prep basketball playoff schedule. Shasta College hosts the Division III and IV finals on
Friday at the moment.
Revenge Tour Continues!
KNIGHTS TAKE OUT BUTTE
(Shasta College-Jeffrey Jen-2/20/08) Call it the revenge tour. The Shasta College women's basketball team is getting back for its early season conference losses. The Knights held off Butte 90-76 Wednesday for their fifth straight win. It's the second such payback win for Shasta (6-3 Golden Valley Conference, 22-7). The Knights beat Lassen last week and can avenge all three of its conference losses with a win over GVC-leader Siskiyous at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Shasta. "We needed to avenge our losses," Knights sophomore point guard Sondra Stilwell said. "We got Lassen last week and now we've got another one." The Shasta women had six Players score in double figures Wednesday. Jasmine McIntosh and Kayla Hightower each scored 15 points and Stilwell had 14 points and seven assists. Katelyn Guild had 13 points, all in the second-half, and nine rebounds. Knights Amanda Potts and Lauren Yehle each added 10. West Valley product Michelle Mathews and guard Kendall Aguilar had 16 points apiece for Butte (7-2 GVC, 22-9). Allison Romero added 14 points. The Knights hit
nine 3-pointers in the first half alone to take a 45-36 halftime lead. Shasta came out cold in the second half and Butte seized the lead less than seven minutes later. But Hightower sank one of her five 3s to tie the game at 58, then sophomore center Katelyn Guild stepped to the forefront. She scored three straight baskets, putting the Knights up 66-62. On the next Knights possession. Hightower hit her final 3 with 6:58 left at the same time Mathews was called for an intentional foul on Guild, who then made one of two foul shots for a 70-62 Shasta lead. Butte never recovered. “I’m real glad we got this win,”
Guild said. “As a team, we played hard the whole 40 minutes.”
FRC No Problem
MCINTOSH LEADS WITH 14 POINTS
(Quincy-2/16/08) Shasta 59, Feather River 33 -- Jasmine McIntosh scored 14 points and added six assists as the Knights rolled past the host Golden Eagles. Rochelle Connolly also had 11 points and eight rebounds for Shasta (5-3 Golden Valley Conference, 21-7), which hosts rival Butte at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Knight's Revenge
RIP LASSEN 91-67
(Susanville-2/13/08) The Shasta College Lady Knights made the two hour and fifteen minute bus ride to Susanville and came away with a little revenge,
beating Lassen College, 91-67. The Knights jumped out 51-33 by halftime and delivered a big road win over the Cougars. Sondra Stilwell scored 20 points to lead four Shasta (4-3 GVC, 20-7 Overall) players into double figures. Kayla Hightower scored 15, Amanda Potts had 14 and Lauren Yehle 12 as the
Knights avenged a home loss to Lassen 67-59 back on January 19th. Shasta travels to Quincy to play Feather River on Saturday. The Lady Knights conclude their league play the following week hosting COS on Wednesday
and Butte College on Saturday.
Knight Shoot Out
EXPLODE FOR 59 SECOND HALF POINTS
(Shasta College-2/6/08-Jeffrey Jen) Shasta 95, Redwoods 58 -- The Knights exploded for 59 points after halftime as six different players reached double figures. Sondra Stilwell had 17 points and 11 assists to lead the way for Shasta
(3-3 GVC, 19-7). The Knights got 52 points off their bench, including 15 from Janay Wilkinson, 14 and eight rebounds from Amanda Potts and 11 from Kayla Hightower. Starters Rochelle Connolly and Lauren Yehle added 11 points apiece. The Knights started slow, struggling against matchup zone the Corsairs (0-6 GVC) threw at them in the first half. "It took me awhile to figure out what to put out on the floor," Knights coach Jerry Brown. He went to small lineup of guards Stilwell, Wilkinson and Lisa Taylor, and forwards Hightower and Potts and that quintet helped Shasta build a 36-23 halftime lead. The Knights then took off midway through the second half. Hightower hit two 3s and Wilkinson added another trey to stake the Knights to a 63-39 lead with slightly more than 10 minutes left. The lead kept growing from there and soon Shasta had its second straight home win. Both Knights teams travel to Lassen
on Wednesday. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228
or at jjen@redding.com.
Potts Powers Knight Rout
16 POINTS IN FIRST HALF
(Shasta College-2-4-08-Jeffrey Jenn) When Mikilah McKenzie, the Knights top player, went down with a season-ending injury four weeks ago, Shasta College women's coach Jerry Brown had to decide her replacement in the starting lineup. Logically, it would seem to be freshman forward Amanda Potts, the top reserve off the bench. Brown instead inserted 6-foot-1 freshman Rochelle Connolly into the first five and kept Potts in the same spot. It's turned out to be the right move. Potts played her usual role as sparkplug off the bench to the tune of a game-high 20 points and nine rebounds in Shasta's 83-40 victory over visiting Feather River on Monday. The win snaps a three-game skid for the Knights. The game was postponed two days as snowy conditions kept the Golden Eagles from making the road trip Saturday. The delay may have thrown things off for both teams, who managed not to score for the first four minutes. By that time, Brown had seen enough to put Potts in for Connolly, who missed some close-range shots. "She always comes in gives us a spark," Brown said about Potts after the game. "That kid plays so hard. I just love how she plays." Fittingly, Potts scored the game's first points on an offensive putback.That shook the Knights (2-3 Golden Valley Conference, 18-7) out of the doldrums. It was then a matter of time before Shasta eventually shook Feather River. The Knights led 17-14 midway through the first half before Potts took a pass from Sondra Stilwell and sank a 12-foot baseline jumper. The freshman from Grants Pass, Ore., had 16 points and eight boards in the first half. Next trip down, it was Janay Wilkinson burying a trey, followed by Stilwell's drive to the hoop for the more conventional three-point play on the next possession. The Knights were off and running and nothing the Golden Eagles did slowed them down. Even a banked-in 3-point heave from Feather River guard Caroline Andre at the first-half buzzer didn't bother Shasta, which still led 37-25. Rather, Shasta came out and scored 28 of the first 34 points in the second half. The Knights were finally able to use their height advantage after intermission. After a poor first half, Connolly showed why Brown was willing to move here into the starting rotation. Connolly scored all 12 of her points in the second half and added nine rebounds. Katelyn Guild, who had been hampered by first-half foul trouble, came back to haul in 10 boards. "For us to put the game away, our bigs had to get more involved," Brown said. "They had no points and six rebounds between them at halftime, but they came out much stronger in the second half." Things got so lopsided that Brown subbed out most of his starters with more than 10 minutes left in the game. Wilkinson had 10 points for the Knights, while Jasmine McIntosh and Lisa Taylor each had eight. In her first start of the season, freshman guard Lauren Yehlie had seven points and five steals. The two-day delay for the Feather River game won't be much of problem for the Knights. Shasta hosts Redwoods at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and doesn't have a game this weekend. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
Knights Lose Thriller in OT
STILWELL PACES WITH 19
(Oroville-1/30/08) Butte 89, Shasta 80, OT -- The Knights couldn't hold onto a seven point second half lead and lost on the road to the Roadrunners. Sondra Stilwell scored 19 points and dished out eight assists, while Jasmine McIntosh added 16 points and seven rebounds for Shasta (1-3 GVC, 17-7), who will try to break a three-game skid at home against Feather River at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
Knights Short in Weed
HALF TIME LEAD EVAPORATES
(Weed-1/26/08) The Shasta College women's basketball team fell to host Siskiyous 75-65 on Saturday. Sondra Stilwell had 14 points and seven assists and Katelyn Guild added a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. Amanda Potts contributed 13 points, but it wasn't enough to keep the Knights from dropping their second straight game. Shasta (1-2 Golden Valley Conference, 17-6) led
33-30 at halftime, but couldn't keep the Eagles from raining treys. Two
Siskiyous players combined for 15 3-pointers. The Knights travel to
Butte on Wednesday.
Cougars Claw Knights
12-2 RUN DOES IN THE KNIGHTS
(Shasta College-1/19/08) Faced with their first real test after losing a key player, the Knights weren't up to the task. Visiting Lassen went on a 12-2 run in the final 3½ minutes to beat the Shasta College women's basketball team 67-59 on Saturday. In a game of grit and effort, the Cougars hit three big perimeter shots down the stretch and the Knights (1-1 Golden Valley Conference, 17-5) couldn't answer. "When you have two good teams, the team that can execute down the stretch better will end up winning," Knights coach Jerry Brown said. Shasta had been 3-0 without sophomore forward Mikilah McKenzie, the team's leading scorer and rebounder. But Lassen (2-0 GVC, 17-8) would be its first formidable opponent. The two teams, along with Siskiyous and Butte, are expected to be in a four-way battle for the league title. The early advantage goes to Lassen thanks to two clutch outside shots from Mary Alice Palmer and a line-drive 3-pointer by Katarina Olivo that turned a two-point Shasta lead into a 62-57 deficit with 2:18 left in the game. The Knights' perimeter shooting deserted them as they went 5-of-28 from beyond the arc for the game. Shasta's starters struggled mightily, with the starting backcourt going a combined 1-of-16. The bench picked up much of the slack with forward Amanda Potts (11 points, 13 rebounds) and guards Lauren Yehle (13 points) and Janay Wilkinson (10 points) all contributing heavily. Sophomore center Katelyn Guild, a starter, also had 10 points. Sondra Stilwell added seven rebounds and seven assists, but was only 1-of-6 from the field for six points. "We had chances to win the game, but we couldn't take advantage of our opportunities late," Brown said. "They come down and they do. That's the game right there." The two teams battled throughout. "It is so tough to come out of here with a win," Cougars coach Mark Nareau said. "You know any Jerry Brown-coached team is going to play hard for 40 minutes." It was Shasta that came out strong and grabbed an 18-10 lead. But Lassen came back behind the shooting of Palmer (17 points) and the inside presence of Jessica Nolan (17 points, nine rebounds). The Cougars briefly led by four points before the insertion of Potts turned the game in Shasta's favor. When McKenzie went down, Brown chose to keep Potts off the bench to help provide a lift, and that paid off when Potts scored six points, grabbed a few boards and had a key steal to fuel a half-ending 10-2 run, putting the Knights up 33-29. Lassen stormed back to the front early in the second half. Again Brown went to his bench with 10 minutes left and down by six. This time, Yehle got the call and she scored three quick baskets in a span of 40 seconds to erase the lead. But the Knights suffered through a crucial stretch with the game tied 45-45 when they committed four straight turnovers, including three in transition. That allowed the Cougars to hang around until their shooters got on track at right time -- in the last few minutes. The result is a big boost to Lassen and a deflating loss for the Knights. "Our conference is so competitive," Nareau said. "This definitely is huge. Any time you get a win on the road is big." Shasta visits Siskiyous at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in hopes of finding its own road victory to get back in the conference title picture. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
Start Slow Finish Fast
LADY KNIGHTS PUT 19-4 RUN ON COR
(Eureka-1/16/08) The Lady Knights were down 33-25 two minutes into the second half when Lisa Taylor and Janay Wilkinson led a 19-4 surge to put Shasta up for good. Lisa Taylor helped ignite the Lady Knight comeback by hitting three 3 pointers in a row. The Lady Knights went on to out score the Corsairs 44-19 in the pivotal second half. Sondra Stilwell had 19 points and eight rebounds. Taylor and Wilkinson had 13 points apiece. The Lady Knights (1-0 Golden Valley Conference, 18-4) host Lassen on Saturday with the tip-off at 5:30 PM.
McKenzie Injury Rocks Knights
BIG INSIDE PRESENCE WILL BE MISSED
(1/17/08-Jeffrey Jen Record Searchlight Article) Injury -- it's a word every coach dreads. But, as any coach will tell you, injuries are part of the game. They are bumps in the road. However, some bumps are bigger than others. Case in point was the jarring sight of Mikilah McKenzie, the leading scorer and rebounder for the Shasta College women's basketball team, limping down the court on crutches. McKenzie ruptured her left Achilles' in practice last week, ending her season and possibly shelving her through next season. The injury hits the Knights hard, as they were 14-4 and No. 8 in Northern California. It's an impressive enough start that Shasta was beginning to think of a Golden Valley Conference title (where four of the six teams are ranked in the top 12 in NorCal) run. But then came a practice when a simple cut by McKenzie suddenly resulted in a season-ending injury. On one hand, coach Jerry Brown admits it's difficult to lose a key player especially so close to the start of league season. The Knights played at College of the Redwoods on Wednesday in their GVC opener. On a personal level, it crushes him to see McKenzie's career end on something like this. The 2006 Enterprise High School graduate has been a standout for Brown for the past year and a half. "That kid has been outstanding for me," Brown said. "She's been great in the classroom and a great captain for two years. Everything I've asked her to do, she's done, whether it is in practice or in games." In the same breath, Brown already is putting the wheels in motion to move on. He started 6-foot-1 freshman Rochelle Connolly at a crossover event in Fresno where Shasta beat Taft and Reedley to improve to 16-4, allowing sixth man Amanda Potts to maintain her role as chief sparkplug off the bench. Meanwhile, he still believes he has enough of a team to challenge for the first GVC title since 2005, even with Siskiyous, Lassen and Butte on the horizon. But Brown will need more offensive production from sophomore center Katelyn Guild and there will be added pressure on the perimeter players. "Everyone will have to step up in order to replace someone like Mikilah," Brown said. As for McKenzie, Brown said "that her playing days aren't over." He believes the 5-10 sophomore can still land at four-year program once she fully recovers. Before her injury, McKenzie was getting looks from the likes of Hawaii Pacific and Cascade College in Oregon. As Brown noted, injuries can't be used as an excuse because they happen. It's how a team responds that determines its fate from there on out. Reporter Jeffrey Jen's notebook runs every Thursday. He can be reached at 225-8228 or jjen@redding.com.
Knights Roll Reedley
STILWELL & POTTS LEAD ATTACK
Shasta 73, Reedley 43: Sondra Stilwell had 18 points and Amanda Potts added 15 and 12 rebounds as the Knights beat the Tigers. Shasta (16-4) starts league play Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at College of the Redwoods.
Comeback Tops DVC
STILWELL LEADS WITH 15
(Weed-12/29/08) The Lady Knights (13-4) made the short trip to Weed to take on Diablo Valley College in a pre-season game and found themselves behind at half time, 24-19. With Sondra Stilwell and Katelyn Guild leading the way the Lady Knights came back to win the game in the second half. The Lady Knights outscored DVC 36-21 in that second half comeback. The final score had the Lady Knights on top, 55-45. The Lady Knights will try and stay on their hot streak when the travel to Hayward to take on Chabot College on January 2nd.
Knights Roll Merritt Big
POTTS LEADS BALANCED ATTACK
(Shasta College-12/28/08) It is never a good way to start a game without scoring for first 8 minutes of play. The Merritt College T-Birds must have left their offense on their bus as they did just that in their 82-44 beat down in Redding. Because of their slow start the T-Birds found themselves in a 24-3 hole that only got deeper. Amanda Potts led the Knights in scoring with 17 points, Mikilah McKenzie added 14 and Jasmine McIntosh chipped in 13. The talented Potts also snagged nine rebounds for Shasta (12-4), which led 45-18 at the half. Rochelle Connolly grabbed 10 rebounds and had four blocks for the Knights. The second half started like the first half for the T-Birds, they scored only 3 points in the first 5 minutes of second half play.
Balance Takes Out Napa
EVERY KNIGHTS SCORES IN WIN
(12/14/07-Shasta College) Usually good things happen when you hold an opponent scoreless for over 4 minutes and when everyone on your team gets into the scorebook. That is exactly what happened to the Lady Knights (10-4) in their
77-35 pasting of Napa. With the score tied at 8-8 early in the first half the Lady Knights went on a 17-0 run to effectively put the game out of reach of the Napa Storm. The 17 point run came effortlessly for the Lady Knights, four points from Stilwell, four points from McKenzie, four points from Potts, two points from Wilkinson and Yehle and the Knights were out of reach. Leading the Lady Knights in the box score were McKenzie with 14 points, Potts, Stilwell and Taylor with 10 each. Gavin and Hall added 6 points each. The Lady Knights are home for their next game on December 28th against Merritt College.
Comeback Tops Ohlone
AMANDA POTTS WITH A HUGE GAME!
(12/9/07-Santa Rosa) Down by 12 at half-time, the Lady Knights (9-4) rallied behind Amanda Potts' 24 points to beat the Ohlone Renegades 74-69 in their Saturday finale in the Santa Rosa Tournament. Potts added to her huge game with 12 rebounds. Lauren Yehle added 16 points while Sondra Stilwell and Jasmine McIntosh added 11 points each. The Lady Knights are home this Friday hosting Napa College.
Knights Roll Reedley
BALANCED SCORING
(12/8/07-Santa Rosa) The Lady Knights got a balanced scoring attack in an 84-41 pounding of Reedley at the Santa Rosa Tournament. Lisa Taylor and Janay Wilkinson scored 14 points a piece to lead the Lady Knights attack. Chipping in eight points a piece were Sondra Stilwell, Mikilah McKenzie and Amanda Potts. The Lady Knights take on Ohlone in their final Santa Rosa Tournament game on Saturday.
No San Mateo Trap
KNIGHTS RUN AWAY IN SECOND HALF
(Shasta College-12/2/07-Jeffrey Jen, Searchlight Article) Knights coach Jerry Brown called it a "trap" game. The Shasta College women's basketball team nearly fell in, but a second-half surge gave them a 68-53 victory over San Mateo in the third-place game of the Shasta Invitational on Sunday. San Mateo was coming off a 33-point loss to Sierra on Saturday and was without standout center Claudia Tatola, who was suspended for the game for breaking team rules. But Brown reminded his team that they still had to go out and play Sunday. "If you go out and don't play hard, next thing you know you're in a dogfight and then you end up losing," Brown said. The Knights answered the bell for the first 10 minutes. But when Brown subbed out his starters, the reserves were timid and the Bulldogs got back into the game. Even the return of the starters a few minutes later didn't provide a spark. Shasta was lackluster in the final 10 minutes of the first half, turning an 18-9 lead into a 36-32 halftime deficit. Facing the prospect of a second straight home loss, Shasta showed more energy in the second half on both ends of the floor. Brown also made a halftime switch to get freshman guard Lauren Yehle out on the floor for defensive purposes. "I put Lauren in to give us more speed on the perimeter defensively and I thought that gave us a spark coming out in the second half," Brown said. Mikilah McKenzie scored 14 of her 19 points in the second half, and Jasmine McIntosh had nine of her 14 after halftime to kick-start the slumbering Shasta offense. McKenzie also had nine rebounds, while Katelyn Guild and Amanda Potts had eight each. McIntosh had six assists. Sondra Stilwell added 10 points and six assists and was named to the all-tournament team. "Coach Brown said we had to play better help defense," McIntosh said of Brown's halftime talk. "We needed to help more on their drives and then make sure we get back out to cover our own guys. We did a better job of that in the second half." Without its starting center, San Mateo turned to guards Hazel Mauk and Nancy Chicas to dribble-drive and penetrate Shasta's defense before passing to open interior players. Mauk finished with 13 points, while Bulldogs forwards Sela Paini and Millicent Filikitonga added 18 and 12 points, respectively. After Mauk opened the second half with a 3-pointer, the Knights scored eight straight. A McIntosh trey put Shasta back in front 40-39 with 17:03 left in the game and the Knights would never trail again. "It seems like we take awhile to get into a rhythm," McIntosh said. "Once we do, we hit open shots, start rebounding and getting steals and just take off." A Potts steal set up a transition bucket for McKenzie, putting Shasta up 44-42 with 15 minutes left in the game. Stilwell then scored off a long pass from McIntosh in transition and added a 3-pointer to give the Knights some breathing room. San Mateo made a run to get to 51-48 after a Mauk field goal off a drive with 10 minutes left, but the Knights wore down the Bulldogs. McIntosh hit a 3-pointer to double the lead, Stilwell found Yehle for a fast-break bucket and Kayla Hightower came off the bench to knock down a two 3-pointers. Just like that, the Knights escaped the trap. In other action, Merced downed Southwest Oregon in the consolation final 64-47, and Santa Rosa toppled Sierra 72-62 in the title game. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
Transition Loss
MCKENZIE LEADS WITH 16
(Shasta College-12/1/07-Jeffrey Jen, Searchlight Article) When the pressure rose, the Knights showed they weren't ready to be one of the top teams in Northern California yet. Instead, the Shasta College women's basketball team wilted against Santa Rosa in a 66-57 loss in the semifinals of the Shasta Invitational on Saturday. Mikilah McKenzie scored 16, Lisa Taylor had 11 and Sondra Stilwell added 10, but the problem for the Knights was a lack of scoring chances. That's what happens when you turn the ball over 30 times, 15 in each half, against a team like the Bear Cubs. Santa Rosa (7-1) withstood a strong Shasta start, then pulled away again when the Knights came back from an 11-point second-half deficit to tie the game with under five minutes left. "We lost our composure when they came right at us," Knights coach Jerry Brown said. "We had turnovers and they turned them into transition baskets. That was the difference of the game." Freshman forward Lisa Muzio paced Santa Rosa with 27 points and nine rebounds, while Mackenzie Bailey had 16 points and Palagi Atoe added 11. Katelyn guild hauled in nine boards and Stilwell had seven assists, but there were too many times where Shasta gave up free possessions. Santa Rosa's defense accounted for some of the turnovers, but many were because the Knights traveled or threw the ball away. The Bear Cubs also had their share of turnovers and shot poorly, but they were steadier throughout the game. Shasta plays the third-place game against San Mateo at noon today. Santa Rosa battles Sierra, a 73-40 winner over San Mateo, in the championship game at 2 p.m. In other tournament action, Merced knocked off Modesto 53-43 and Southwest Oregon beat Mendocino 54-47. Merced and Southwest Oregon play the consolation final at 10 a.m. The Knights went up 14-6 in the first five minutes, but the Bear Cubs fought back for a tie at 26 at halftime. Brown told his team that the first five minutes of the second half would be crucial. He was right, as Shasta (6-3) turned the ball over seven times in those first five minutes. Santa Rosa pushed its lead to as much as 11. "For whatever reason, we didn't come out with the same energy we had in the first half," McKenzie said. Down 52-41 with eight minutes left, Shasta rallied. Jasmine McIntosh, who struggled most of the game, hit a short jumper to key a 13-2 run by the Knights. McIntosh's 3-pointer from the right wing tied things at 54 with 4:14 left in the game. But Muzio drained a 17-foot jumper from the top of the key, and Santa Rosa knocked down six straight free throws during a 12-0 run that sealed the win. "We had some fouls during that stretch and didn't help us," McKenzie said. "Too many turnovers and too many fouls. We need to cut down on both." Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
Hot Knights Roll SWOCC
MIKILAH LEADS WITH 23 POINTS
(Shasta College-12/1/08-Jeffrey Jen) (Tournament Bracket) When the outside shots aren't dropping, it's nice to have a couple of inside forces. Forward Mikilah McKenzie scored 23 points as the Shasta College women's basketball team opened its Shasta Invitational tournament with an 80-56 win Friday over Southwest Oregon Community College. The Knights (6-2) struggled from the perimeter against the scrappy Lakers (1-3). The nice thing about a balanced offense, however, is if the outside isn't there, you can go inside. McKenzie, the Knights sophomore forward, led the way for Shasta with 17 first-half points. Whether it was stepping out for mid-range jump shots or getting position for layups, Southwest Oregon didn't have an answer for her or sophomore center Katelyn Guild, who finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. "I thought our inside players did a great job tonight," Knights coach Jerry Brown said. The Lakers hung around for the first 15 minutes and trailed 27-21 before McKenzie sank a 12-foot baseline jumper. That sparked a 17-4 run to halftime. In addition to the size advantage, Shasta also had a quickness edge, particularly at the point guard. Sophomore Sondra Stilwell started slow, but came on for 15 points, seven assists and five steals. Stilwell had back-to-back steals for breakaway layups early in the second half to extend the Knights' lead to 56-30 with 15:38 left in the game. "We had to stay aggressive and execute our press and our offense," Stilwell said. "That carried things for us." Southwest Oregon ran off eight straight points ending with a three-point play from Kristen Lorenzo, who led the Lakers with 16 points. But, after a 1-of-12 3-point shooting effort in the first half, Janay Wilkinson and Stilwell hit back-to-back treys, allowing the Knights to coast. "Our outside shooting was off," Stilwell said. "But we have a lot of good shooters such as Janay and Lisa (Taylor) and Kayla (Hightower). Those shots we missed outside will eventually fall." Amanda Potts came off the bench to grab nine rebounds with four steals for Shasta, which plays the winner of the late Santa Rosa/Mendocino game at 7 p.m. today. In other action, Sierra beat Modesto 80-60 behind 45 points and 12 3-pointers from guard Tamar Gruwell. The Wolverines face San Mateo, a 55-50 winner over Merced, at 5 p.m. today. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
Knights Build On Last Season
STRONG INSIDE & OUTSIDE GAME THIS SEASON
((11/28/07-Shasta College-Jeffrey Jen Searchlight Article) The Knights were supposed to be weaker on the perimeter this season. Guess again. The Shasta College women's basketball team already showcase a more well-rounded game after winning the Diablo Valley College tournament last weekend and leaping out to a 5-2 record to start the season. A year ago, the Knights used strong interior play and tough defense to a 21-win season. That strong inside game is back with 5-10 forward Mikilah McKenzie and 6-0 center Katelyn Guild, both sophomores. McKenzie, a returning all-conference player, wasn't even the best interior player on the team some nights last season, the honor sometimes earned by Guild. Those two return for Knights coach Jerry Brown along with forward/center Cara Hall and 5-3 point guard Sondra Stilwell. "Compared to a year ago, I feel more confident and I know what to expect," McKenzie said. "We have a good team, but we have to realize that everyone is good at this level. Everyone on the team can play, even those on the bench. I think our freshmen already realize that." Depth on the frontcourt is provided by 6-1 freshman Rochelle Connolly from South Fork High School in Redway and 5-10 Amanda Potts from Grants Pass, Ore. Both have provided big minutes off the bench. This year, the Knights have a more consistent perimeter attack to support the frontcourt. It begins with Stilwell, who didn't start games last year at the point, but usually finished them. She is joined out on the wing by 5-7 Enterprise grad Jasmine McIntosh, who spent last season on the Knights' volleyball team, and former Shasta High teammate Lisa Taylor, a 5-5 shooting guard. Brown also has plenty of shooting options off the bench this season. Stilwell will be backed up by 5-4 Lauren Yehle from Winters and Leroia Pippins out of Milwaukee. Yehle is a quick guard with range, who led the Northern Section with 22.2 points per game as a senior. Other wings include Kayla Hightower of Durham, Janay Wilkinson, also from South Fork High, and Kristie Gavin from Del Norte. Hightower and Wilkinson already have shown the ability to get hot and knock down a few 3-pointers. "We have a lot of new girls and a lot more shooters," Stilwell said. "That will be good for us since we have Mikilah and Katelyn back in the frontcourt." Even Brown said he realizes he has a talented squad. "I think we have the potential to be a pretty good team," Brown said. "If this team plays the way they should." Shasta must do just that since the Golden Valley Conference may be the toughest league in Northern California. Siskiyous and Lassen are again loaded, and Butte is always dangerous, leaving Shasta fourth on the conference pecking order for the moment. Feather River also figures to be much improved. After opening at home with a win over Marin on Saturday, Shasta has a chance to play in front of the home crowd this weekend in its own invitational tournament. The Knights open with Southwest Oregon Community College at 5 p.m. Friday. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
Knights Blast Marin
NO TURKEY DAY SLUGGISHNESS
(11/24/07-Shasta College-Jeffrey Jen Searchlight Article) The Thanksgiving break lasted an extra 11 minutes for the Knights. But, once the sluggishness wore off, the Shasta College women's basketball team ran away with a 70-29 win over College of the Marin in its home opener on Saturday. Jasmine McIntosh scored 13 points and Mikilah McKenzie added 11 as the Knights (5-2) used an 18-4 run late in the first half to blow things open against the winless Mariners (0-6). Shasta then held Marin scoreless for almost a 10-minute stretch midway through the second half despite having reserves on the court for the bulk of the time. After playing against some of the top teams in Northern California, the Knights had too much firepower for the Mariners to handle. Marin came out in a 2-3 zone to try and keep Shasta's frontcourt players contained. For a time, it worked mostly because of Shasta's aggressive trigger hands. "We came out shooting too much," McKenzie said. "We needed to be more patient and run our offense. Plus it was exciting for our first home game." Lisa Taylor's 3-pointer with 8:24 left in the first half put the Knights up 11-5 and finally shook them out the doldrums. McIntosh and Taylor both knocked down a pair of treys during the big first-half run that eventually sent Shasta into halftime up 31-15. Unlike last year, zone defenses likely won't cause much trouble for the Knights, which knocked down 11 3-pointers against Marin. In addition to McIntosh's three treys and Taylor's two, Janay Wilkinson, Lauren Yehle and Kayla Hightower all knocked down two treys apiece. "When people zone us this year, we'll have the shooters to handle the zone," Knights coach Jerry Brown said. Brown also was happy with a 14-5 start in the first five minutes of the second half that pushed Shasta up 45-20 following a transition basket by McIntosh. "I liked how we came out strong at the start of the second half," Brown said. "After playing all those tough games, it was nice that I could play everyone and get them a lot of court time." Katelyn Guild grabbed nine rebounds despite not playing the final 15 minutes and Sondra Stilwell had seven assists and five steals for the Knights, which prepped for their own tournament next weekend. Shasta opens the tournament with a 5 p.m. Friday game against Southwest Oregon Community College. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
Hightower Leads Knights
FOUR THREES IN FIRST HALF
(11/17/07-Rocklin) Shasta 69, Cosumnes River 43 -- The Knights closed out the Sierra Tournament with a victory over the Hawks on Sunday. Kayla Hightower hit four 3-pointers in the first half for all 12 of her points as Shasta (4-1) led 34-20 at halftime. Amanda Potts had 10 points and both Janay Wilkinson and Katelyn Guild had eight points for the Knights, who visit American River on Tuesday before their home opener against Marin on Saturday.
Merced Falls to Knights
KNIGHTS ADVANCE TO CONSOLATION FINAL
(11/18/07-Rocklin) The Shasta College women’s basketball team advanced to the consolation final of the Sierra Tournament with a 65-60 win over Merced on Saturday. Kayla Hightower had 12 points, while Mikilah McKenzie and Lisa Taylor scored 10 points apiece for the Knights. Sondra Stilwell had nine points and eight steals, while Katelyn Guild added seven assists and seven boards. Shasta (3-1) plays Cosumnes River at 10 a.m. today.
Knights Fall in Rocklin
SECOND HALF KEY
Sierra 84, Shasta 66: The Knights were down one at the half, but wound
up with their first loss of the season. Amanda Potts had eight points and 12 rebounds. Mikilah McKenzie led the Knights with 16 points. Shasta (2-1)
faces Merced at 3 p.m. today.
Knights Win First Tourney
MIKILAH NAMED MVP
(11/10/07-Concord) The Shasta College women's basketball team won the
Diablo Valley Tournament with a 64-62 win over DeAnza College on
Saturday. Amanda Potts had 17 points and seven rebounds for Shasta (2-0). Mikilah McKenzie had 12 points and seven boards, while Sondra Stilwell
added 12 points and seven assists. The Knights beat Los Positas 75-67 on
Friday as McKenzie went for 30 points and 11 rebounds. McKenzie
earned tournament MVP honors and Stilwell also chosen all-tourney.
(above L-R) Knight Sophomores for 2007-08, Cara Hall, Katelyn Guild,
Mikilah McKenzie and Sondra Stilwell

(Printable copy of the Lady Knight's schedule)

Any Questions, Comments or Corrections write the Webmaster.