Ashlee Cole loves energy of Lady Vikings


Siuslaw girls basketball coach Ashlee Cole

So far so good for first-year Siuslaw Vikings girls basketball coach Ashlee Cole.

"My first practice was really good," the former Vikings multi-sports standout said. "We had a really good turnout of girls.

"The girls are very excited and hyped up for practice. I hope we can keep that enthusiasm throughout the whole season."

Cole, a former Coast Radio/Siuslaw News athlete of the year, has much the same challenge as her former classmate, Samuel Johnson.

Cole and Johnson were both part of the Siuslaw Class of 2014.

Both Cole and Johnson are first-year head coaches, and both succeeded Chad Smith, who was 0-8 as a one-year football coach of the Vikings and 5-19 as a one-year coach of girls basketball.

One big difference is that Cole's staff will be significantly smaller than Johnson's.

For now, it's just Cole and junior varsity coach Sara Truax.

"Sara and I are the only coaches at this time," Cole said. "I have not decided if I am going to bring in anyone else to help."

And, for now, she's relying on the afterglow of her hiring, which made her the fourth head coach in four seasons of Vikings girls basketball.

"The upperclassmen really stepped up at practice, making sure all the freshmen were involved in each drill and were not singled out," Cole said.

"I am very excited to see the girls' excitement, enthusiasm and chemistry grow as we try to have fun."

The Lady Vikings open their season Wednesday, Dec. 4, hosting Newport at Glenn Butler Court.

Tipoff of the Ashlee Cole Era is 5:45 p.m.

SIUSLAW VIKINGS 2019-2020
GIRLS BASKETBALL
SCHEDULE

  • Wednesday, Dec. 4 — Newport, 5:45 p.m.
  • Friday, Dec. 6 — at Pleasant Hill, 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 10 — Sutherlin, 5:45 p.m.
  • Thursday, Dec. 12 — at Harrisburg, 8:30 p.m., Junction City/Harrisburg tournament
  • Friday, Dec. 13 — Junction City/Harrisburg tournament, to be determined
  • Saturday, Dec. 14 —Junction City/Harrisburg tournament, to be determined
  • Wednesday, Dec. 18 — at Stayton, 5:30 p.m.
  • Friday, Dec. 20 — at South Umpqua, 6 p.m.
  • Friday, Dec. 27 — Douglas, 5:45 p.m., endowment game
  • Friday, Jan. 3 — vs. East Linn Christian Academy (Lebanon, Ore.), Bandon Dunes Holiday Invitational, 6 p.m.
  • Saturday, Jan. 4 — Bandon Dunes Holiday Invitational, to be announced
  • Tuesday, Jan. 7 — Taft, 5:45 p.m.
  • Friday-Saturday, Jan. 10-11 — Sky-Em/Skyline Crossover, Phoenix, to be determined
  • Friday, Jan. 17 — at Cottage Grove, 7:15 p.m., Sky-Em League opener
  • Tuesday, Jan. 21 — Marist Catholic, 7:15 p.m.
  • Friday, Jan. 24 — at Marshfield, 7:15 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Jan. 28 — Elmira, 7:15 p.m.
  • Friday, Jan. 31 — at Junction City, 7:15 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 4 — Cottage Grove, 5:45 p.m.
  • Friday, Feb. 7 — at Marist Catholic, 5:45 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 11 — Marshfield, 5:45 p.m.
  • Friday, Feb. 14 — at Elmira, 5:45 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 18 — Junction City, 5:45 p.m.