Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 292

12 The Gilbert Republic POETS High school sports online azCentralcom For all the schedules, scores and statistics from high school sports, go to hlghschooli.azcentral.com. 6 FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2005 QUEEN CREEK GIRLS BASKETBALL Humble but likes to rumble KIDS AND SPORTS Trained youth refs are crucial HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS 2-DAY PLANNER TODAY Girls soccer Both matches at 4 p.m. Chandler at Highland. Hamilton at Mesquite. Boys soccer Both matches at 6 p.m.

Chandler at Highland. Mesquite at Hamilton. Boys basketball All games at 7 p.m. Queen Creek at Globe. Saguaro at Desert Ridge.

Gilbert at Chandler. Hamilton at Highland. Higley at Rio Rico. Girls basketball All games at 7 p-nv Rio Rico at Higley. Desert Ridge at Saguaro.

Chandler at Gilbert. Highland at Hamilton. Wrestling Higley at Tim Van Horn Memorial. SATURDAY Boys basketball Saf ford at Higley, 5:30 p.m. Girls basketball Higley at Safford, 5:30 p.m.

Wrestling Higley at Tim Van Horn Memorial. The parents are not the only ones to blame when a youth sporting event gets out of hand. Four key groups play an active role in securing a fun, safe and learning atmosphere: coaches, referees, parents and players. All four fall under the guidance and supervision of the organization's administration. I have spent a lot of time talking about the coaches, parents and players.

The referees play a huge part in making sure the game is played within the boundaries of the TOM KUYPER By Odeen Domingo odeen.domingoarizonarepublic.com There's a figurative place on the court where Tamara Lemalu's play changes like a traffic light. Red for stop. Yellow for slow down. And green for go, go, go, go, go. It's a place the Queen Creek girls basketball team, which hosts state power Globe tonight, calls "the green mode." "I try to stay mentally in the game; in green mode," Lemalu said.

"If you're in green that means you're ready." It's a place where the humble, quiet 16-year-old becomes a ferocious, in-your-face basketball player. It's where the junior, who wouldn't even touch a dirty shirt, dives onto the floor at the first sight of a loose ball. It's where the first-year varsity player acts like a veteran and averages nearly double figures in points and rebounds for the team that is 15-5 overall and 6-3 in region play. "She seems so little and humble, but when she goes on the court, she gets after it," coach Kylee Bean said of the 5-foot-10 forward. Lemalu has recorded a double-double in eight games.

She uses her size and athleticism to her advantage. She also plays Softball (her main sport) and volleyball and competes in the discus -throw and shot put. "She's probably the best post player I've had," said Bean, who is in her 14th year coaching Queen Creek. "She uses her body and gets inside position so well. Against Sahuarita, she got double teams but (she still scored.) "The most fun thing is watching this big girl get down and dive on the floor for the ball.

Usually, big girls don't want to dive on the floor. But she gets down and dirty. "She even gets out-sized in terms of height. Physically, she's just as strong as they are but sometimes she gives up four and five inches. "She doesn't complain.

She just works that much harder to get better position. She just really works hard to be the best that she can be and stay in this green mode that she talked about." Lemalu also is resilient. The first time she picked up a basketball was four years ago when she tried out for her junior high team in eighth grade. -1 -f Cori Takemoto WilliamsThe Arizona Republic Basketball is catching up with softball as the favorite sport of Queen Creek multi-sport star Tamara Lemalu. softball on Lemalu's list of favorite sports.

"It's fun to be out there to play as a team instead of individuals," Lemalu said. That's another thing. Lemalu won't talk about herself unless prodded. She can't say without adding a "we." "She's kind of like a little teddy bear. In the classroom she's just quiet, does her work, an honor student.

But on the floor she's not afraid to bang around," Bean said. "She never loses her composure. There's no doubt about it. She loves the game. She loves to be Highland product in NAU rotation She was cut.

That made her want to play basketball even more. She now is having games where she scores more than 20 points and pulls down more than 10 rebounds. "I watched her play a lot in JV. And of course she was fairly successful in the JV level, but not to the extent she is having this year, which is why she's scoring as much as she is," Bean said. "She scored 20-plus against Valley Christian in our first game this year.

She just killed them, in the words of their coach." And now basketball is catching up to Illinois. Simply put, he wanted to play right away. "At all the other schools, I probably had to redshirt my first year," McCurdy said. "It's just a good feeling knowing that I'm playing college basketball and I have an opportunity to play. I'm RYAN MCCURDY grateful for that.

It's been one of my goals. I wanted to play my freshman year and not having to sit out or red-shirt." With NAU's depleted front court, McCurdy was given the chance to challenge for a starting role during preseason practices. At one point, he was penciled in as the starting center. But another freshman, Kyle Landry, who averaged 30.9 points and 22.4 rebounds as a senior in Canada, stepped up to take that spot. McCurdy has started one game.

McCurdy's best performance was in a one-point loss to Oral Roberts in November, when he scored 10 points and grabbed a team-high five rebounds. rules, yet in a way that is fun, safe and educational for the kids. I recently was at a basketball tournament for kids in the fifth through eighth grades. There was a $300 team entrance fee, which is a normal price for a club basketball weekend tournament. The tournament committee did a great job of setting up the tournament with the game brackets, snack bar, clean facility, pre-tournament communication and keeping the games on schedule.

The problem came when I heard one referee make his first call. The sound that came out of his whistle was 'a short, little "toot." I knew right away that this was a new referee who was insecure in his position. You see, a strong, confident referee doesn't "toot," he blows that whistle long and loud. He is not afraid to make the call. I shared this inside refereeing scoop with a woman sitting next to me.

Of all people that I could have shared that with, she just happened to be the referee's mom. She assured me that her son wasnt afraid to make a call, but that his whistle was just broken. Somehow, that didn't make me feel any better. As the game continued, the calls got worse from all three referees. (I guess all three whistles were broken.) Insecure referees, broken whistles and bleachers full of parents are not a great mix.

It didn't take long for the crowd to get out of hand, irate over the inconsistent calls and the lack of control the referees had over the game. Several parents became concerned about the safety of their children. I knew it wouldn't take long, and then it started. Parents were standing and the focus shifted away from the kids, the fun and the game and onto the referees. Both teams had parents shouting at the referees and at each other and it escalated.

The next step was inevitable: One referee stopped the game, pointed to a dad in the stands and asked him to leave the gym. The crowd grew silent as the dad and the referee yelled at each other. The referee had to ask for help from two tournament committee administrators to assist the dad out of the building. The atmosphere in that gym was changed. There was disbelief that it had gone to this level There was a feeling of shock that a fun game for these kids ended in such a sad way.

The fun was gone. The biggest problem in this situation, believe it or not, was the referees. It was their lack of confidence that caused their inability to control the game and maintain a fun and safe environment that created this situation. You see, they were volunteer referees. The host organization was trying to save money by getting volunteer referees.

These referees were parents of the host team. This is not the area in which you cut financial corners. Kids need to have the benefit of certified or educated and experienced referees, not volunteer, inexperienced ones with broken whistles. Next week I will highlight one of the best youth referees I have met and watched work with kids, Art Wilson. He is the epitome of a youth referee.

I will also outline the guidelines, boundaries and responsibilities of a youth referee. If fxi have questions or comments far Tom Kuyper, e-mail him at 1 I GOLF TOURNAMENTS The Rattlesnake Round- up, a competitive team event that is open to the public, will i be Sunday and Monday at I The Duke at Rancho El Do-. rado. The format for the first I day is a two-person scram-! ble, the second day a two-per-j son best ball. Entry fee is $498 per two-person team, with a total purse of $5,000 (based on a 50-team field) to be paid out in golf shop gift certificates.

Register at www.thedukegolf.com, or by calling (480) 844-1100. The Mulligan Madness golf tournament allows golfers two balls on every shot. It will debut in the Valley this month. The first two events will be Jan. 29 and Feb.

8 at Stone-creek in Paradise Valley. The third will be Feb. 10 at The Foothills Golf Club in Ahwa-tukee, and the final on Feb. 24 at the Legend at Arrowhead in Glendale. Mulligan Madness is an individual player tournament for golfers of all skill levels.

The cost is $150, and the top prize is $4,000. Information: www.twoballgolf.com or call 1-80001-7599. ACES Dick Minice at The Lakes at Ahwatukee, 155-yard No. 12, 6-iron. JoAnn Hicks of Sun Lakes at Palo Verde, 90-yard No.

3, wedge. Larry Alvarez of Sun Lakes at Palo Verde, 156-yard No. 1, 6-iron. Gary Vandengos of Apache Junction at Greenfield Lakes, 160-yard No. 13, 8-iron.

Tom Wheatley at Whirlwind, 131-yard No. 3, wedge. Henry Buf ett of Chandler at Bear Creek, 175-yard No. 6, 3-iron. Deanna Mae Fulton of Sun Lakes at Ironwood, 117-yard No.

15, 9-wood. GILBERTQUEEN CREEK GOLF COURSES Apache Sun GC 919 E. Pima Road Queen Creek (480) 987-9065 GreenfleM Lakes GC 2484 E. Warner Road Gilbert (480) 503-0500 Johnson Ranch GC 433 E. Golf Club Drive Queen Creek (480) 987-9800 Kokopefli GR 1800 W.

Guadalupe Road Gilbert (480) 926-3589 CoOnas GC 21515 E. Village Loop Road Queen Creek (480) 987-3633 The Links At Qveea Creek 445 E. Ocotillo Road Queen Creek (480) 987-1910 4052 E. Clubview Drive Gilbert (480) 722-8100 TrEogy GC 4415 E. Village Parkway Gilbert (480) 988-0004 Western SUes GC 1245 E.

Warner Road Gilbert (480) 545-8542 By Odeen Domingo odeen.domingoarizonarepublic.com Look at these stats: 2.8 points, 1.9 rebounds in 10.6 minutes a game. Impressive? No. Unless you're Ryan McCurdy. Those are McCurdy's numbers through the first 17 games of his college basketball career. His points and rebounds could be higher, but those 10.6 minutes a game are the main reason why the 6-foot-9, 210-pound freshman center chose to play at Northern Arizona.

McCurdy was a top prep players in Arizona last year, leading Highland High in points, rebounds and blocks as the Hawks went 27-3, held a No. 1 ranking for five weeks and reached the second round of the state playoffs. He helped Highland reach the state semifinals his junior year and to a state championship his sophomore year. With those credentials, McCurdy could have gone to bigger college programs but chose NAU over Division I California-Santa Barbara, New Mexico, Wyoming, Bowling Green and Southern HIGH SCHOOL NOTES "I'm just doing what I need to and what coach wants me to do," McCurdy said. "I'm seeing a lot of playing time.

It's good knowing I had a chance (to start) and that it was open wide. It's nice to know I had that chance and I still do." NAU coach Mike Adras knew McCurdy was talented enough as a freshman to fill holes in his front-court lineup. "You never know how many minutes you'll get as a freshman," Adras said. "And he's been right in the thick, of things. I'm extremely excited about his progress." Another reason McCurdy chose NAU was to be close to home.

His mother, Michelle Hanna, has missed just one home game. "It's something he wanted his whole life; to be able to play college basketball," Hanna said. "It's been a challenge to get up there (Flagstaff) all the time. But it's been real positive, especially because he's having a great time playing a lot as freshman. At first we were thinking we were driving up there just to see him play a couple of minutes.

It's nice to see him play a lot." ented junior Tamara Ltmara and sophomores Courtney Adotpn and Larissa Hedge "I think going into this season we expected more from the guards instead of the post because of the experience," coach Kyle Bean said. "As we lost two people to injuries, it changed I think we knew in practice we had pretty good post players. It is a surprise to have the success they've had. It's a big jump from junior varsity to the varsity level." Lemalu averages nearly double figures in scoring and rebounding. Adolph scores in double figures consistently and Hedger has found a home in the starting lineup.

"I think people expected us not to win one game," Lemalu said, adding that their success "actually is a surprise but everyone's working as hard as they can. Our goal is to get to regionals and go from there." Lighter Tuitu'u moves to wrestling mat By Odeen Domingo odeen.domingo'? anzonarepuWic.com Every time Highland High senior Richard TuRu'n is mentioned in an article, something changes. He went from "Richard Tuitu'u, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound offensive lineman to "Richard Tuitu'u, a 6-f oot-5, 300-pound lineman." Now Tuitu'u, who committed to play football at Arizona State, is a 6-5, 275-pound heavyweight wrestler. Tuitu'u has been running and working out consistently since football practice began last summer and into the wrestling season. Highland is a state championship contender.

Its next match is at Mesquite on Wednesday. When he decided to commit to ASU, Tuitu'u said the coaches might have a problem with his weight loss but they still want to stay on the good side of his older brother Valu. Valu is also Highland's head of security and the assistant wrestling coach. The brothers know that wrestling will help Richard's football ability. "Wrestling helps with my balance a lot and quickness," said Richard, who started wrestling in the ninth grade.

"It maintains where my body's at." He said he plans to hit the weights after wrestling and bulk up to about 305 for his freshman season at ASU. Talent rises to top Before the season, the Queen Creek girls basketball team lost 12 players 10 to graduation and its top two point guards to injury. So how can Queen Creek be 155 heading into tonight's game against visiting Globe? It's because of three first year varsity starters who are at least 5-10 and tat.