Dec. 12, 2008

KATIE BUSI
Stanislaus basketball

Busi has truly been a warrior for Stanislaus (4-1) in the program's best start in eight years. Playing on a bum left knee, she leads the California Collegiate Athletic Association in rebounds (10.8) and blocked shots (2.3), and is second on the team in scoring (14). Busi was named the CCAA's Female Athlete of the Week for Nov. 24-30.

"I just want to help the team out and contribute as much as I can," Busi said. "I'm really excited about how well our team is doing. We have so much more potential this year. I'm real excited to see where our year will go."

Busi, a 2007 Calaveras High graduate, has been bothered by a nagging knee injury. But she refuses to let it interfere with her game. At 6 feet tall, the sophomore forward knows how valuable her rebounds are to the Warriors. She has two double-doubles this season.

"Rebounding is a big thing," Busi said. "If a team is getting outrebounded, it's real rare you'll win the game."

The highlight of her season so far was hitting a 3-pointer to tie the game against Academy of Art on Nov. 28. Stanislaus won 80-76 in overtime.

SAMUEL YEAGER
MJC basketball

Gone are the cornrows and the identification of his youth. Yeager has started a new chapter of his life at Modesto Junior College, and he wants to be addressed accordingly.

"Samuel is my real name," Yeager said. "It's a Biblical name. I've matured. It's a better me."

To most people, he's always going to be "Sammy" and his talents have only grown since he graduated from Modesto High in 2006. Yeager was clearly the dominant player of last week's MJC Tournament, scoring 91 points in three games. He led the Pirates with 38 points in a 100-94 loss to Siskiyous.

"It was very cool to have all those points, but we didn't win," Yeager said. "I just do it for the team. It's just so fun to be back. I want to win state. I want to help my teammates get better."

Yeager is averaging 27 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. His 3-point shooting percentage is .395.

His favorite move is to dunk, something he did against two-time defending state champion Fresno City in the the MJC Tournament.

"Nothing feels better than that," Yeager said.

-- KELLY JONES