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Highshoe steps it up
Heather Highshoe, a 2005 Napa High graduate, donned a knee brace while starting at point guard for the Sierra College women's basketball team last season. She’ll move on to play at Cal State Stanislaus in Turlock this year. Philip Wood/Gold Country Media | Buy photos
Her knee's healthy as she lands scholarship
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CommentHeather Highshoe thought of playing two sports when she first got to Sierra College.
The 2005 Napa High graduate never did follow basketball with softball at the community college in Rocklin, but her desire to compete as much as possible showed in the way she played point guard.
The 2005 Napa High graduate never did follow basketball with softball at the community college in Rocklin, but her desire to compete as much as possible showed in the way she played point guard.
“She’s the ultimate, as far as pumping the kids up,” Sierra head coach Brandie Murrish said of the former Napa High four-year basketball/softball standout. “She has a look of focus about her. She elevates the play around her. Running the point, we asked her to do more of that and get her teammates involved. She’s an emotional leader.”
That leadership impressed Cal State Stanislaus head coach Sharon Turner-Dean when Highshoe approached her about playing for the Warriors’ NCAA Division II program.
That leadership impressed Cal State Stanislaus head coach Sharon Turner-Dean when Highshoe approached her about playing for the Warriors’ NCAA Division II program.
Highshoe fit in well with the team and during a tryout, earning a chance to continue her collegiate career with the Warriors on a scholarship.
Highshoe said that the style of basketball she played under Napa High head coach Darci Lewis was similar to that of Sierra and Stanislaus.
Highshoe said that the style of basketball she played under Napa High head coach Darci Lewis was similar to that of Sierra and Stanislaus.
“Darci had us playing a high-energy style, and I know Coach Turner likes to run and gun, so it shouldn’t be any different,” she said.
Turner-Dean said Highshoe’s intensity made her a must-have for the Warriors.
“We need people that want to play hard at all times, and I think that Heather will do that,” the coach said. “She will go through a major adjustment as to how hard you actually have to play at our level in order to be successful. I don’t have any doubt that she will make the adjustment.”
Part of Highshoe’s enthusiasm for basketball might come from realizing how precious every game is these days.
She had to sit out Sierra’s state runner-up season after suffering torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments near the end of her first season and having knee surgery.
“It was a lot of fun going to state,” Highshoe said. “I was sad that I wasn’t able to experience it on the court, but I practiced and traveled with the team, so it was still a great experience.”
Highshoe said she had initially chosen Sierra because she wanted to play for Roz Goldenberg in her 15th season as the Wolverines’ head coach. Highshoe said she suffered her injury the very night Goldenberg told the team she would be retiring because of a heart problem, near the end of a 22-11 season in 2005-06.
She tried to play the next year under Murrish. But it wasn’t long before she had to make probably the hardest decision of her career.
“She played in the fifth game before she had to make that call,” Burrish recalled. “She took the advice of the doctors to just strengthen it. It was a tough decision, but she’s battled back. She said she’s glad she didn’t rush it. It was good for her to be mature about it. She came out a better person and stronger basketball player.”
Highshoe said Goldenberg helped her make the decision.
“I hurt it a lot,” said Highshoe, who had played shooting guard as a freshman at Sierra. “Coach Roz said I was one of the best shooters she’d seen coming in, but my shot wasn’t anything like it was before.”
After being named a team captain and rooting the team on to the state finals, Highshoe said she learned to work harder than ever before.
“Not that I didn’t work before, but when I’m a step below other people because of the year I had to take off, it does make me work harder,” she said.
The Wolverines finished 27-7 overall last year, and Highshoe led the squad with 3.8 assists per game, was fourth with 9.5 points, and added 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals.
“I wore a knee brace during games but not in practices,” Highshoe said. “I only felt two or three tweaks in my knee all year.”
Murrish said Highshoe grew with the Wolverines in her ability to handle the ball under pressure.
“Against some of the quickest defenders in the state, she learned to play with composure and not feel rushed,” Murrish said. “She’s grown in her maturity off the court, too. She’s focusing on education. She’s just such a great kid. I hope for really good things for her.”
Highshoe said a 56-54 loss to College of the Sequoias in the second round of this year’s playoffs made her hungry.
“Right in the middle of the game, somebody turned off all the lights and there was a 20-minute break,” she recalled. “Since that loss, I’ve been eager and ready to play again.”
Highshoe made 33 shots from the 3-point arc last season — second only to the 62 of Vacaville High product Tamar Gruwell, who had a school-record 12 in one game.
Gruwell will continue her career at Alaska Anchorage, which hosts Stanislaus Dec. 19-20. Two other former Sierra teammates also earned scholarships to schools on the Warriors’ schedule — Napa High grad Katie Keilig (Sonoma State) and Rocklin alumna Annelise Miller (Chico State).
“It’s gonna be exciting to see them all again,” Highshoe said.
Highshoe said Rebecca Arent, a former Sierra College teammate and friend who transferred to Stanislaus last year, helped steer her toward the Warriors. She said the pair will room with two other teammates.
“She said Turlock is a town where all the athletes know each other from different sports,” Highshoe said. “It’s more of a family deal, because a lot of athletes takes classes together. It’s only two hours away from Napa, and I like to have family close. It’s been a little intimidating, but I’ve talked with teammates. They’ve reassured me that it’s gonna be hard but worthwhile.”
School starts Sept. 3 for Highshoe, who plans to major in physical education and pursue a teaching credential so that she can be a teacher-coach.
Her ability to work well with people was one of the qualities that impressed Turner-Dean.
“From what we have been able to ascertain about Heather, she seems to be a wonderful young lady,” Turner-Dean said. “We have worked very hard to get good people — not just good athletes, but good people — in our program. She fits in with our players as a person, and they enjoyed playing with her during the tryout.”
Burrish also thinks the 5-foot-7 Highshoe will be a good fit for Stanislaus, which finished 7-19 overall and 5-15 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play last season.
“With her ability to step in right away and make things happen, they could definitely use a player like Heather,” Burrish said. “She’s bringing a winning attitude to their program.”
Turner-Dean said she and her husband, assistant coach Gary Dean, plan for Highshoe to play point guard, provide some outside shooting and get the ball to their returning top scorers.
“I know that she will work very hard, hopefully provide some court leadership, add to our team chemistry and be a good teammate regardless of circumstances,” Turner-Dean said.
Turner-Dean said she won’t know if Highshoe will start or how much playing time she’ll get until after the team begins practicing Oct. 15.
“With the people that we have returning and coming in, we will be able to play a different style of basketball than we have in the past, and that will necessitate the usage of more players in each game,” she said. “So I would expect Heather to get a good amount of minutes, but it is too early to tell, and I never promise a player playing time.”
Burrish will miss having Highshoe around.
“She’ll always be that first kid I met when I stepped foot on this campus,” she said. “I’m going to miss her stopping by my office and asking for Gatorade or food.”
Register correspondent Erin Lawley contributed to this story.
Turner-Dean said Highshoe’s intensity made her a must-have for the Warriors.
“We need people that want to play hard at all times, and I think that Heather will do that,” the coach said. “She will go through a major adjustment as to how hard you actually have to play at our level in order to be successful. I don’t have any doubt that she will make the adjustment.”
Part of Highshoe’s enthusiasm for basketball might come from realizing how precious every game is these days.
She had to sit out Sierra’s state runner-up season after suffering torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments near the end of her first season and having knee surgery.
“It was a lot of fun going to state,” Highshoe said. “I was sad that I wasn’t able to experience it on the court, but I practiced and traveled with the team, so it was still a great experience.”
Highshoe said she had initially chosen Sierra because she wanted to play for Roz Goldenberg in her 15th season as the Wolverines’ head coach. Highshoe said she suffered her injury the very night Goldenberg told the team she would be retiring because of a heart problem, near the end of a 22-11 season in 2005-06.
She tried to play the next year under Murrish. But it wasn’t long before she had to make probably the hardest decision of her career.
“She played in the fifth game before she had to make that call,” Burrish recalled. “She took the advice of the doctors to just strengthen it. It was a tough decision, but she’s battled back. She said she’s glad she didn’t rush it. It was good for her to be mature about it. She came out a better person and stronger basketball player.”
Highshoe said Goldenberg helped her make the decision.
“I hurt it a lot,” said Highshoe, who had played shooting guard as a freshman at Sierra. “Coach Roz said I was one of the best shooters she’d seen coming in, but my shot wasn’t anything like it was before.”
After being named a team captain and rooting the team on to the state finals, Highshoe said she learned to work harder than ever before.
“Not that I didn’t work before, but when I’m a step below other people because of the year I had to take off, it does make me work harder,” she said.
The Wolverines finished 27-7 overall last year, and Highshoe led the squad with 3.8 assists per game, was fourth with 9.5 points, and added 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals.
“I wore a knee brace during games but not in practices,” Highshoe said. “I only felt two or three tweaks in my knee all year.”
Murrish said Highshoe grew with the Wolverines in her ability to handle the ball under pressure.
“Against some of the quickest defenders in the state, she learned to play with composure and not feel rushed,” Murrish said. “She’s grown in her maturity off the court, too. She’s focusing on education. She’s just such a great kid. I hope for really good things for her.”
Highshoe said a 56-54 loss to College of the Sequoias in the second round of this year’s playoffs made her hungry.
“Right in the middle of the game, somebody turned off all the lights and there was a 20-minute break,” she recalled. “Since that loss, I’ve been eager and ready to play again.”
Highshoe made 33 shots from the 3-point arc last season — second only to the 62 of Vacaville High product Tamar Gruwell, who had a school-record 12 in one game.
Gruwell will continue her career at Alaska Anchorage, which hosts Stanislaus Dec. 19-20. Two other former Sierra teammates also earned scholarships to schools on the Warriors’ schedule — Napa High grad Katie Keilig (Sonoma State) and Rocklin alumna Annelise Miller (Chico State).
“It’s gonna be exciting to see them all again,” Highshoe said.
Highshoe said Rebecca Arent, a former Sierra College teammate and friend who transferred to Stanislaus last year, helped steer her toward the Warriors. She said the pair will room with two other teammates.
“She said Turlock is a town where all the athletes know each other from different sports,” Highshoe said. “It’s more of a family deal, because a lot of athletes takes classes together. It’s only two hours away from Napa, and I like to have family close. It’s been a little intimidating, but I’ve talked with teammates. They’ve reassured me that it’s gonna be hard but worthwhile.”
School starts Sept. 3 for Highshoe, who plans to major in physical education and pursue a teaching credential so that she can be a teacher-coach.
Her ability to work well with people was one of the qualities that impressed Turner-Dean.
“From what we have been able to ascertain about Heather, she seems to be a wonderful young lady,” Turner-Dean said. “We have worked very hard to get good people — not just good athletes, but good people — in our program. She fits in with our players as a person, and they enjoyed playing with her during the tryout.”
Burrish also thinks the 5-foot-7 Highshoe will be a good fit for Stanislaus, which finished 7-19 overall and 5-15 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play last season.
“With her ability to step in right away and make things happen, they could definitely use a player like Heather,” Burrish said. “She’s bringing a winning attitude to their program.”
Turner-Dean said she and her husband, assistant coach Gary Dean, plan for Highshoe to play point guard, provide some outside shooting and get the ball to their returning top scorers.
“I know that she will work very hard, hopefully provide some court leadership, add to our team chemistry and be a good teammate regardless of circumstances,” Turner-Dean said.
Turner-Dean said she won’t know if Highshoe will start or how much playing time she’ll get until after the team begins practicing Oct. 15.
“With the people that we have returning and coming in, we will be able to play a different style of basketball than we have in the past, and that will necessitate the usage of more players in each game,” she said. “So I would expect Heather to get a good amount of minutes, but it is too early to tell, and I never promise a player playing time.”
Burrish will miss having Highshoe around.
“She’ll always be that first kid I met when I stepped foot on this campus,” she said. “I’m going to miss her stopping by my office and asking for Gatorade or food.”
Register correspondent Erin Lawley contributed to this story.
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teebs40 wrote on Aug 24, 2008 12:51 PM:
notshocked wrote on Aug 24, 2008 4:09 PM:
I fail to see the relevance of "teebs40" remarks being focused on the topic in the story. In addition, besides the personal attacks and degrading comments, none of it is constructive to the matter.
Perhaps you are concerned that by not posting the remarks you open yourselves to further criticism by teeb40... but seriously, those remarks can be submitted as a separate opinion. Why stain the great article on Ms. Highshoe? "
teebs40 wrote on Sep 2, 2008 6:40 PM: