Forde Hoping to Lead Young Falcons Back to State

One could say that Ali Forde had a solid sophomore year at Woodinville High School.

She helped lead a very experienced Falcons basketball team to a 20-1 regular season and a district playoff berth while also qualifying for state in track in the shot put. She also lettered in volleyball. For those accomplishments, she was named one of the Seattle Times' 2010 athletes of the year.

As a sophomore last year, Forde -- a 6-foot-1 junior center -- posted a double-double in points and rebounds in all but two of her team's 23 games. She finished the season averaging just under 16 points per game and 13 rebounds while breaking Leslie Tuiasosopo's school record for rebounds in a season.

But Forde was slowed in the playoffs and Woodinville lost to Newport and Issaquah in districts, which prevented the Falcons from their goal of winning the 4A state title.

This season, the younger, less-experienced team has struggled to regain its form from 2009-2010. However, Woodinville remains talented enough to be ranked No. 7 in the Seattle Times preseason 4A poll.

The Falcons are trying to incorporate three new starters, led by sophomore point guard Kim Frost. Frost is following in the footsteps of her older sister, Amanda, who ran the Falcons' offense last year before graduating.

"Last year we had really good team chemistry, really solid leadership through seniors like Amanda Frost and Sarah Hale," Forde said. "This team has a lot of new players but I think we have a lot of potential to be really good by the end of the year. We just need to put the building blocks together."

Those building blocks include getting the returners like Forde and senior Melissa Gilkey to jell with the newcomers and follow Woodinville head coach Scott Bullock's system.

Late one Monday night practice in early December, the Falcons were hard at work on their offense, trying to get the ball into the low block where Forde and Gilkey thrive.

Getting the ball inside is their identity.

"We're trying to get all of our posts the ball. Melissa and I, and Deidre (Miller, a junior transfer)," Forde answered in describing the offense, which has contributed to the Falcons' slow start this season.

While Forde won't admit it, another factor to the slow start could be the injury she suffered over the summer.

Forde injured her right knee early in the summer while playing basketball and volleyball and didn't learn until later that she had suffered a partial tear to her meniscus. The resulting surgery caused her to miss a healthy portion of the volleyball season.

She hasn't missed any of the basketball season, though, and said "(the knee) actually feels pretty good." Her coach agreed.

"I don't think the injury is affecting her right now at all," Bullock said.

The Falcons (4-2) have faced a tough early season schedule, losing to No. 5 Issaquah and 3A No.1 Holy Names before beating Garfield to spark their current three-game winning streak. Woodinville is in Arizona this week for a holiday invitational tournament (schedule in pdf form). Their next regular game is Jan. 5th against Eastlake High School in Sammamish.

Forde undoubtedly remains the key. As Bullock stated, opponents know about her so things aren't going to be as easy as last year. But don't think for a moment that she isn't up for it.

"She's a tremendous athlete and a girl that everyone on our team likes," Bullock added. "I think a lot of what  she needs to focus on is just the mental approach to her game. We're working with her to sharpen that up."