Experienced Lady Bulldogs Begin Quest for State Playoffs

DAYTON – Dayton girls' basketball coach Clayton Strong says his team knows exactly what it needs to do this year to make it to at least the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.

Led by four seniors who were starters all last year, the Lady Bulldogs have all the experience they need to reach their goal, he says. The job now is execution.

Sydney Andrews, Jenna Phillips, and Shayla Currin were first-team all-league last year, as the team won the Southeast 2B conference championship. Teammate Josilyn Fullerton was honorable mention.

Dayton enters a new league this year: The Eastern Washington Athletic Conference. They will play familiar foes, including DeSales, Walla Walla Valley Academy, and Tri-Cities Prep. But league play will take them farther afield, including trips to Mabton, White Swan, and Kittitas.

"We know these are some good teams," Strong said. "Mabton knocked us out (of the playoffs) last year, and White Swan knocked us out two years ago."

Strong said that his starting lineup will likely be filled out by senior Alexis Wanlarbkam, who will share point guard duties with Phillips. He said that Andrews, Currin, and Fullerton can all play both forward and post.

Other players that are likely to see considerable action this year include sophomores Tatumn Laughery and Neylan Bryan.

"These girls have lots of post-season experience, and they know what they need to do," Strong said. He said that one of the things that really hurt the team the last two years, particularly in the playoffs, was fouls.

"We're going to really work on trying to stay out of foul trouble," he said.

Strong is joined again this year by assistant coach Jason Mings, who will also coach the JV team.

The Lady Bulldogs travel to Oaksdale on Friday and will host Pomeroy Saturday night.