Ultimate team player

She had three different coaches in less than a year.

Her current team has 14 wins in almost two full seasons — less than half the victories (30) she was part of during her senior season at St. Mary's High School.

Renee Roberts

If anything, University of the Pacific shooting guard Renee Roberts has proven she's a team player.

"There have been times when I thought 'What did I get myself into?," Roberts, of Lodi, said recently as the rebuilding Tigers (8-18, 2-9 Big West) struggle through another losing season.

"But mostly, I don't have any regrets."

This from a three-time state champion while at St. Mary's. This from a player who graduated as California's career leader in 3-pointers and has one of the sweetest shots you'll ever see.

But even as she struggles to regain that sweet stroke (shooting 25.8 percent from behind the arc this season), Roberts refuses to be bitter sitting on the bench. She refuses to point fingers or become another distraction on a team that has seen its share of controversy in recent years.

"Losing can get frustrating when you're sitting on the bench," Roberts admitted. "If we're winning, it doesn't matter.

"I think in a couple of years we'll be turned around. We'll be good next year and the next year we'll be better. But we're starting from scratch."

It's a stark contrast from a prep powerhouse that had all the ingredients of a champion.

Before Roberts joined Pacific there was trouble percolating in the program, and early in her freshman season it reached a full boil.

Widespread dissatisfaction with the team's direction led to numerous player and coaching defections and the eventual resignation of coach Craig Jackson only six games into the 2005-06 season. Karen Weitz served as interim coach the remainder of the way and the Tigers suffered through a 6-22 (3-11 Big West) season.

Despite the dissension, Roberts started 19 games and averaged 8.4 points. The 5-5 guard even pulled down 3.7 rebounds a game.

But more importantly, she managed to steer clear of the controversy.

"I really didn't say much. I didn't really have a problem with him (Jackson). I just sat back and watched it.

"It was hard because all preseason you're coached by one guy, and then an assistant with a totally different coaching style steps in and you have to learn everything again," Roberts said.

While the hiring of Lynne Roberts as new head coach last offseason gave the program a fresh start, it also brought about an air of uncertainty for returning players.

For Roberts, even the hiring process brought about mixed emotions. Her former high school coach, Tom Gonsalves, was among the finalists.

"That was a tough deal," she said. "Yeah, it would have been more beneficial for me if Tom had been hired."

Gonsalves didn't get the job.

Roberts didn't keep her starting position (she's averaging 13.2 minutes and 3.2 points off the bench).

The Tigers are struggling to compete on a nightly basis, as evidenced by a 67-39 loss to UC Davis last Thursday that was their ninth defeat in 10 games.

And yet, Roberts remains the ultimate team player.

"I think I've handled it pretty well. It's definitely frustrating. It's another rebuilding year.

"But I like the coaches a lot and it's a lot more fun this year, for sure. If we buy into what the coaches are saying we'll be good in the next couple of years."

ALUMNI UPDATE
ATHLETE	SPORT	HIGH SCHOOL	COLLEGE
Julius Thomas	Boys Basketball	Tokay	Portland State
The 6-5, 220-pound freshman forward had eight points and six rebounds for the Vikings (16-10, 7-7 Big Sky Conference) in a 92-86 win over Eastern Washington on Feb. 10.
Kevin Hasenfus	Boys Basketball	Lodi	Whitworth College (Spokane, Wash.)
The 6-7, 220-pound senior had nine points and three rebounds for the Pirates (22-3, 13-3) in an 81-66 win over Willamette last Friday that helped Whitworth wrap up a share of the Northwest Conference title. He had 18 points and seven rebounds in a 95-90 overtime loss to Puget Sound on Feb. 9.
Ari Warmerdam	Boys Basketball	St. Joe's (Alameda)	UC Davis
The 6-4, 195-pound senior forward had seven points and two rebounds in an 88-59 loss to Utah Valley State on Feb. 6. He had two points in a 65-58 loss to Pacific on Monday night.
Jordan Lawley	Boys Basketball	Tokay	UC San Diego
The 6-4, 185-pound guard had nine points, three assists and two rebounds for the Tritons (10-13, 8-10 California Collegiate Athletic Conference) in a 67-56 loss to Cal State Bakersfield last Friday.
Lucas Birchard	Boys Basketball	Elliot	William Jessup (Rocklin)
The 6-5 sophomore guard had 13 points in a 59-46 win over Menlo College last Wednesday and 15 points and four rebounds for Jessup (17-11, 11-5 Cal-Pac Conference) in an 86-74 loss to CSU Maritime on Feb. 10.
Alex Rivers	Baseball	Tokay	Santa Clara
The 5-10, 155-pound right-hander pitched four innings of relief and allowed no hits, two runs, two walks and struck out two in a 7-5 loss to UC Davis on Saturday. He threw one inning of relief and allowed one hit, one run, one walk and struck out one in a 2-1 loss to San Diego State on Feb. 10.
David Cooper	Baseball	Tokay	Cal
The 6-0, 185-pound sophomore first baseman had a two-run double and three RBIs for the Golden Bears (5-4) in an 8-4 win over UNLV last Friday. He was 2-for-3 with a two-run HR and an RBI single in a 15-6 loss to San Francisco last Tuesday. He was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs in a 9-5 win over Portland on Feb. 11.
Kaila Shull	Softball	Elliot	UCLA
The freshman catcher was 2-for-4 with two HRs � she now has five for the season � and four RBIs in a 12-2 win over Wright State on Sunday. She was 2-for-3 in an 8-1 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday, 2-for-4 in a 3-0 win over Central Florida and doubled and drove in a run in a 10-2 win over Colorado State on Friday. She homered and drove in three runs in a 14-0 win over UC Riverside last Tuesday. The Bruins are 7-4 this season.
Do you know of a local athlete that has continued playing at the college or pro levels? If so, the News-Sentinel encourages you (parents, coaches, athletes and anyone else) to update us on how these former athletes are doing. We'd like to update our readers as often as possible. You can reach the News-Sentinel sports department by phone at 369-7035 or by e-mail at sports@lodinews.com.

First published: Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Reader Feedback

mad dog wrote on Feb 21, 2007 7:38 AM:

" Roberts had a great high school career.But the system and type of players she was around fit her skills.Problem is she does not have a "sweet smooth shot"its an unorthodox looking shot,that had success from much practice,,and then being able to put up 10 or more open shots per game that were created by the best point guard in the State. "

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Ultimate team player

Even in difficult times, Lodi's Renee Roberts puts the Pacific women's basketball team before herself

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