Spokane will look to other Stars

A stress fracture suffered by University basketball star Angie Bjorklund has been a bad break for the Spokane Stars.

As a result the Stars Elite Blue traveling team must play its ambitious summer schedule without Bjorklund – its most high-profile player.

The Stars play in the Oregon City End of the Trail tournament beginning Thursday. After its completion July 9 they immediately follow with the Midsummer Nights Madness Nationals in Seattle, July 10-13.

The final two tournaments this summer are the River City Classic, July 22-25 in Memphis, Tenn., followed by the prestigious Nike National Championships in North Augusta, S.C.

Bjorklund, a second-team Parade All-American and Washington’s Gatorade Player of the Year bound for the University of Tennessee, suffered her second stress fracture within the year.

While the setback is a blow to the Stars, it creates opportunity for others. At least coach Ron Adams is approaching his summer schedule that way.

“Life goes on,” he said. “Obviously we won’t be as good when you lose the best player in the country. On the other side of the coin, other girls will get the chance to show what they can do.”

The loss of Bjorklund, figures Adams, means replacing about 22 points, eight rebounds and one of the team’s two top defenders.

“We have to make it up somehow,” he said. “Will we? Only time will tell.”

Among numerous players who can help, said Adams, are Gonzaga Prep’s Tara Cronin and Lewis and Clark’s Brittany Kennedy.

Cronin becomes a starter and will be asked to help LC’s Katelan Redmon fill the scoring void. Kennedy’s playing time will increase because of her quickness and defense.

But Stars players, who understand that their responsibilities and productivity must increase, acknowledge that Bjorklund’s absence will be felt.

“She was our go-to person basically for everything,” said point guard Nikki Nelson. “If anybody needed help on a play she was there.”

Nelson said she must now become a coach on the floor and Adams said he will ask her to control tempo more.

Redmon, already a two-time first-team All-GSL basketball player, will become the Stars’ primary offensive threat. She was big-eyed early as a first-time State 4A tournament performer, but had an eye-popping performance in LC’s title victory.

“(State) was really overwhelming for me,” she admitted. “But the state championship game was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I went out and said ‘I want this game so bad.’ Everything was dropping. It was just amazing.”

Cronin, a two-sport All-GSL athlete, was dominant in both soccer and basketball, even if as a 5-foot-9 post, she flew somewhat under the radar because the GSL had so many high-profile players.

Adams said she is the best player the Stars have at attacking the basket and she can defend either the post or perimeter.

Her game will change as a first-year Elite Blue team member.

“I haven’t been used to playing a wing,” she said. “I’m going to try and drive more and I will catch and shoot more.”

There’s an outside chance that Bjorklund could play in the Tennessee and South Carolina tournaments.

“Personally I’m not sure how we’ll do in Oregon City because other teams will have been playing (tournaments) already,” said Adams. “When we get to Seattle we’ll have a good idea of how we will do the rest of the summer.”

If Bjorklund is cleared to play, Adams said, so much the better.

“We will be a lot better team if she comes back because the others have been playing without her.”