Back from the dead — literally — the Voyageurs women’s basketball program looks to improve on only eight wins over the past two seasons
Tumultuous isn’t a strong enough word to describe Rainy River’s 2008-09 women’s basketball season.
The program was discontinued with games still left to play and reestablished soon after the season was over. And all the while they finished 5-20 overall with eight players on the roster at season’s end.
New coach Nate Berlin — the fourth coach in four years — is looking to right the ship. RRCC has only eight wins (compared to 39 losses) over the past two seasons.
“Get the program on track again,” Berlin mentioned as his No. 1 priority. “Get it pointed in the right direction. The girls know what they want to accomplish. We just have to go there.”
Fortunately for Berlin, five sophomores return to help him get things on the right track. Asha Johnson and Shawncinee Lay will captain the 2009-10 squad, while Carley Lake returns as a solid post presence. Ashley Walker spent time with the team last season but didn’t see any action. Samantha Alberts is expected to add athleticism to the squad after a successful volleyball season.
“Our goal is just to progress throughout the year,” said Berlin, who took over Oct. 1. “We have the talent to be a contender in the North Division, but we have to work at it.”
Joining the four sophomores are freshman Cally Tinkess, Leona Boyd, Dashondra Brown, Talayla Jones and Terry Young. Nine players is the most the program has sported in three years.
“People can run the court. We have shooters. We have rebounders. We got everything this year,” Lay said.
Johnson and Lay want to help prove this program deserves the second chance it got after getting reinstated 38 days after the Feb. 13 discontinue date.
“I’m looking forward to a better season and better chemistry with all the sophomores and freshmen,” Johnson said. “We have better chemistry this year.”
The Voyaguers will need all the chemistry they can get with a tough Minnesota College Athletic Conference staring them in the face. Six teams are already ranked in the top 20.
But the goal is simple after making the smooth transition to Berlin, who was an assistant for the men’s team last season and will keep the same post this year, crossing over to both programs.
“To show everyone that RRCC is more than what people thought,” Johnson said.
2009-10 RRCC Women’s Basketball Schedule
DATE OPPONENT TIME
11/13 vs. Hibbing @ Mesabi Tournament 2 p.m.
11/14 vs. Mesabi @ Mesabi Tournament 2 p.m.
11/20 vs. TBD @ Vermilion Tournament TBA
11/21 vs. TBD @ Vermilion Tournament TBA
12/4 at Fergus Falls 6 p.m.
12/5 at St. Cloud Tech 1 p.m.
12/11 HOME vs. Minneapolis 6 p.m.
12/12 HOME vs. Anoka-Ramsey 1 p.m.
12/18-19 @ Central Lakes Tournament TBA
1/2-3 @ Minn-Dak Classic in Bottineau, ND TBA
1/6 HOME vs. Mesabi Range 6 p.m.
1/9 at Northland 2 p.m.
1/15 at Central Lakes 6 p.m.
1/16 at Itasca 1 p.m.
1/20 HOME vs. Vermilion 6 p.m.
1/23 at Fond Du Lac 1 p.m.
1/27 at Hibbing 6 p.m.
1/30 HOME vs. Itasca 1 p.m.
2/5 HOME vs. Fond Du Lac 6 p.m.
2/6 HOME vs. Northland 1 p.m.
2/10 at Vermilion 6 p.m.
2/13 HOME vs. Central Lakes 1 p.m.
2/17 HOME vs. Hibbing 6 p.m.
2/20 at Mesabi Range 1 p.m.
2/26-28 State Tournament TBA
Who is Nate Berlin?
• Falls High School graduate — 1998
• Played varsity football and basketball for the Broncos for three years, while also participating in varsity track and field for four years.
• Previous experience in athletics:
For the past 10 years, Berlin has coached, officiated and scouted basketball and other athletics on both the male and female sides at numerous levels. His coaching stints included Minnesota Youth Athletic Services, Amateur Athletic Union, Duluth youth basketball, Anoka-Hennepin middle school basketball, Nashwauk-Keewatin varsity basketball, Pacesetter basketball and International Falls boys basketball.
• Favorite quote as a coach:
What is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular.
• What do you want to be known for as a coach:
Having good programs on the court as well as in school and the community.
• Greatest piece of advice for someone wanting to get into coaching:
Start in your local community with youth programs at verious levels. This will give you a good idea of whether you like coaching and at what level you like.
• A successful season is ... ?
Steadily progressing in a positive manner.
