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Caught in coaches’ crossfire

Commentary: Paul Valencia

By Paul Valencia, Columbian High School Sports Reporter
Published: March 3, 2010, 12:00am

A year ago, Justine Joudrey averaged 10 points a game in Class 4A Greater St. Helens League play, helping her team finish in second place. She was a first-team all-league selection in voting by the coaches.

This year, Joudrey averaged 19.8 points a game for a second-place team and was voted as a second-team talent.

No, there was not an infusion of players scoring 25 points a game this season in the 4A GSHL. In fact, Joudrey led all of Clark County — all classifications — in scoring this season.

The only difference, besides the fact that she was so much better this season, was her jersey. Joudrey played at Heritage last year; this season, she played for Evergreen.

Apparently, that’s enough to make her less of a player in the eyes of the coaches.

It seems clear that the voters were unhappy with how Evergreen got so good, so fast, following a winless season last year. It seems clear that the voters — adult coaches — took out their frustration on a high school junior and her teammates.

Sunday night, I spoke with representatives from the other four Clark County high schools in the 4A GSHL, asking them to tell me where I was wrong with my assertion. Not one of them wanted their names associated with this column. And not one of them denied that this vote looks strange.

Instead, some voiced concerns about Evergreen’s program, how several players from other schools showed up to play for new coach Jay Foreman. It just so happened that some of those athletes played for Foreman on his AAU team last spring.

Every athlete who changes schools has a story, a unique situation.

Joudrey’s stepfather, Randy Neaphen, said Justine would still be at Heritage if not for the family’s financial situation. Their home is in the process of being foreclosed, and the family moved late last spring.

Neaphen did acknowledge that Justine thrived under Foreman’s coaching on the AAU team, but he said the coach never asked him to move Justine to Evergreen.

He said he considered writing a letter to the other coaches to explain the family’s situation. Neaphen does not want Justine to be punished next year, too.

“I don’t know if they’re mad at Jay, or at me for losing the house, but I don’t think Justine Joudrey did anything wrong, and I don’t think she should have gotten the short end of the stick,” he said.

“They voted with emotion, not of their judgment of talent.”

One player, one situation.

However, when one program inherits several of these players, and the program turns into a winner overnight, there are going to be suspicions. Evergreen athletic coordinator Keenan Burris told The Columbian that every player on this year’s team was cleared to play for the Plainsmen.

Still, it is left for officials from the school, the athletic district, and the WIAA to investigate allegations of recruiting.

If there are irregularities at Evergreen, there can be sanctions. The team can be stripped of its district tournament championship. The players can lose their individual honors, as well as their eligibility. The coach can be disciplined, even fired.

But when coaches decide to use the all-league voting as a way to police what they believe is improper behavior, sorry, that’s just vindictive.

Few people know exactly what happened with Foreman and his new players last summer. This column is not intended to accuse nor defend the coach.

I just know that for this season, Justine Joudrey was eligible to play for Evergreen. And all she did was nearly double her point total from last year, when the coaches thought of her then as one of the top five players in the league.

Foreman, who was contacted by The Columbian for this column, denies any wrongdoing. He was allowed to finish coaching his AAU team last spring because that season was in progress when he was hired as Evergreen’s coach. Of course, he told his players that he got the Evergreen job.

Foreman does have his supporters. Earlier in the regular season, a couple of Skyview athletes who played on his AAU team gave him a post-game hug. They took pictures, with them in their Skyview gear and Foreman wearing his Evergreen shirt. On Saturday, members of the Camas basketball team were at the 4A bi-district playoff game, cheering for the Plainsmen. Five Papermakers played for Foreman last spring and summer.

Foreman said he did not ask any of them to move.

When the all-league results got back to Foreman, he said he knew exactly what had happened. Joudrey was the only Evergreen player on first team, second team, or honorable mention, while every other school had at least two players honored.

“The initial reaction was they were mad at me and the program. They were trying to hurt me by hurting my kids,” Foreman said. “One, it worked. Two, I will never forgive (them).”

Every year, The Columbian hears allegations of recruiting by high school coaches.

One of my favorite things to tell people regarding this subject is that I could get a Pet Rock eligible to play high school athletics in this state. It is not difficult.

The problem has more to do with the system. The 4A GSHL girls basketball coaches, or coaches from any league, in any sport, should fight for more oversight. Change the system. Demand tougher rules. Ask for thorough investigations, real accountability.

Adult coaches should not be firing shots at another coach through the all-league voting. Because a 16-year-old girl who is eligible and is clearly one of the five best players in the league just might get caught in the crossfire.

Paul Valencia covers high school sports for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4557 or e-mail at paul.valencia@columbian.com

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Columbian High School Sports Reporter