Olin leads Bulldog girls in quest for state trophy
SANDPOINT — Playing on Saturday at state was the goal to begin the season, and it remains the goal now, as the Bulldog girls open the 4A state tournament against Pocatello on Thursday.
After a 10-year hiatus at state, and a 32-year span between district championships, the Bulldogs were understandably happy hoisting the championship trophy recently after punching their ticket to state.
A lot of blood, sweat, tears and practice jumpers has gone into getting to state, as well as building a program where there won’t be decades between state tournaments.
Leading the charge is do-everything guard Hailey Olin, a four-year starter whose dedication was rewarded with her first trip to the big dance. So what was going through her head when the final second ticked off the clock in the district championship?
“It was surreal,” she recalls. “We all came in as freshmen and state was one of our biggest goals. All of the hard work paid off.”
Olin is the undisputed leader of the team, a player her coach calls the glue of the team. A garden variety stat line for Olin, who plays four different positions in a given day, looks something like this: 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals.
That’s a lot of glue, and it’s not lost on second year head coach Bill Bender, who raves about his senior leader.
“There’s a genuineness about her, a joy in her life, a dedication toward excellence,” describes Bender. “Hailey steps up and wants to be the best friend, best player, best leader she can be. Whenever someone needs a friend, or needs leadership, Haily Olin is right there.”
Olin hasn’t decided if she wants to play in college, instead keeping her focus on ending the season on a high note. She believes the success of the team could hinge on how well they perform in transition, when the team plays its best ball.
Peaking at the right time, Olin says the goal at state is the same as it’s been from day one.
“Playing on Saturday. We’ll take it one game at a time,” predicts Olin, recently named the MVP of the 4A IEL team. “We were No. 1 in our league and won the tournament, accomplishing something that will be remembered.”
Bender feels staying composed will be the biggest key to his team’s success at state. Many of the players boast state experience in soccer, volleyball and track, but hoops is a different animal altogether.
“When we remain composed, the best of all of us comes out,” says Bender, whose coaching style allows for free-wheeling play. “They seem reasonably relaxed and reasonably confident. We understand our roles, identifying how can I help this team? In the last couple of weeks, that sort of crystallized.”
Senior post Nikole Alamillo has played a large role on the blocks for the Bulldogs, posting some of her strongest games down the stretch. Alamillo, Karlee Williams and Emma Liband will be tasked with controlling the paint.
Sophomore Madi Schoening is the Bulldogs’ best defender, and is fresh off a 22 point performance in the district championship win over Lakeland. Her drives and kick outs to sharp shooters Maryah Delgado and Emily Chatburn keep defenses honest. Riley Couch, Lily Martin, Makayla Sundquist and Morgan Bluemer will also see plenty of minutes in what could well be three games in three days.
Bender is no stranger to state tournaments, participating in many as a coach in Washington. His steady hand has helped forge great unity on an experienced team.
“His leadership has brought everyone together in a special way,” describes Olin, lauding Bender’s experience. “He uses a lot of different metaphors, he’s motivational, and helps us all understand our goal.”
All state games will be webcast live online at www.idahosports.com.