Everywhere Oregon athletes go, Nicole Garbin seems to go, too.
The soccer star turned basketball player traveled to San Jose last weekend to represent Oregon in a three-on-three competition after the semifinals of the Pacific-10 Conference Tournament.
There, she teamed with Sylvia Atkins, Keri Bellotti and Whitney Malkin to bring home the title with a final-round victory over Stanford. In the single- elimination format, teams took to the court after the actual Stanford women’s basketball team’s 67-52 semifinal win over USC.
“I thought every team we played, they were tough and they were of course out to win because it was single-elimination,” Garbin said.
Garbin and others had a little trepidation at the call-your-own-fouls format. What one player might consider a foul, another might consider good, physical defense.
“It got a little messy at times, but it was fun,” Garbin said.
Garbin initially was on the three-on-three team for the qualifying round at Oregon, but already had airfare to visit her boyfriend, football player Matt Toeaina, who was in San Francisco preparing for the NFL Combine. Soccer players Darcie Gardner and Teresa Bowns played instead, but once the team advanced to San Jose, they couldn’t go because they’d miss school and soccer practice.
Here’s where Garbin and Malkin rejoined the team. Malkin was already in San Jose as a team manager for the Oregon women’s basketball team and they had a second-round game against California, a game they lost 63-51.
Garbin and teammates received tournament basketballs for the win. They also had their airfare, hotel and food costs paid for.
“It was exciting,” Garbin said.
Garbin filled in for women’s basketball team briefly – three weeks – after Kristen Forristall quit and joined the volleyball team last fall. Thursday, her former teammates were unaware of her good fortune. They testified, though, to her talent.
“I’m sure she would rip it up,” guard Cicely Oaks said. “She’s not shabby, but I didn’t even know.”
Maybe that short stint on the team helped Garbin after all.
“Well, it was probably all that work we did with her, that extra developmental work we did with her back when she spent three weeks with us,” assistant coach Phil Brown said laughing. “But whatever Nicole did, she’s a great competitor and I’m sure she’d be pretty successful at anything.”
Were they surprised to know team manager Malkin contributed?
“No, we taught Whitney everything she knows,” guard Kaela Chapdelaine said. “Just kidding.”
It capped a busy two weeks for Garbin, who spent the previous weekend in Davis, Calif. playing for an Oregon women’s intramural team called Mo Betta. She earned MVP honors in the West Region Tournament as the team advanced to the finals April 14 in Cincinnati. NIRSA, the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association, supports intramural athletics.
Getting back into it
The Oregon women’s basketball team, looking refreshed from some time away, was in good spirits Thursday.
“We had Sunday, Monday, Tuesday off and I definitely took all those off … just to recharge,” guard Taylor Lilley said. “I feel good now coming back.”
Oregon is focusing on individual improvement with teamwork mixed in as they shift practice locations with Oregon high school basketball championships taking place in McArthur Court. Thursday, they practiced in the Morse Center at Northwest Christian College, and Friday are practicing in the Student Recreation Center. The team has to wait until Monday to find out if it’s invited to the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
Returning to normal
Jessie Shetters appeared more comfortable last Saturday against California and in the best form since returning from her stress fracture. She spent 11 minutes on the court and had two points, a rebound and a steal.
On her basket, forward Eleanor Haring flipped a pass to Shetters through the key. Shetters went up, made the layup and drew the foul on California star Devanei Hampton.
“It’s a change from sitting and running the clock everyday (in practice), but yeah, it’s good to just get out and try to get back with these guys who’ve been working with each other for the last month,” Shetters said.
Chapdelaine, who stood nearby, piped in, “It was like we never missed her though. It’s really nice having her back. She’s made an impact, given the limited minutes she’s had. She’s getting those rebounds, blocking those shots. She had a (three point) play.”
“I paid her to say that,” Shetters said.
“I just love her so much, you know,” Chapdelaine said.
Brown and coaches have also noticed a refreshed Shetters.
“She really is full of beans and she’s got a little bit more energy than some of the others who have been going now for five months,” he said.
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