<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Erin Feeney is a junior guard on the Jackson High School girls basketball team. Her outgoing personality energizes all of her teammates, Feeney's coach said. Known as a dangerous outside shooter in previous seasons, Feeney has improved other areas of her game and is becoming one of the top players in the area.

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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Basketball is Feeney's getaway

By Mike Cane
For The Enterprise

Whenever life gets overwhelming, Erin Feeney grabs a basketball.

"It is really my getaway," said Feeney, a 5-foot-8 guard. "If I'm having stress with life or I'm having a hard time, I can just go and shoot with my dad or shoot by myself and put my iPod on and not think about anything."

A third-year varsity team contributor, Feeney went from being a complementary player the past two seasons to emerging as a go-to scorer in 2008-09. She is averaging 17.7 points per game.

But there's more to Feeney than hoops. She's known as an uplifting, outgoing young woman who always finds a way to make others laugh. And wait until you hear about Feeney's class schedule, which all of her Timberwolves teammates envy.

Coach's corner

Feeney's unique school experience -- she attends Chrysalis School in Woodinville but plays sports for Jackson -- helped shaped her outgoing personality, Jackson girls basketball coach Jeannie Thompson said. Feeney doesn't see Jackson students during school hours but still connects with the team. "She's one of those people that can instantly make people smile," said Thompson. "No matter where she goes she always brings a smile. She always brings infectious energy, positive energy."

Tenacious 'D'

Previously regarded as a talented outside shooter, Feeney has become a better defender. "This year she's one of our best floor leaders defensively. Her and Chanel (Sam, a junior guard/forward) really get up the floor and push the tempo that way," Thompson said. On offense, Feeney added the ability to hit pull-up jump shots and to attack the basket, the coach said.

Back in action

A bout with mono forced Feeney to miss Jackson's first four games this season. She returned Dec. 30 and scored nine points in a non-league victory against Marysville-Pilchuck. After that Feeney tallied at least 20 points in four of the next six games.

Dream schedule

At Chrysalis School, Feeney attends classes two days a week (three hours Tuesday and 3.5 hours Thursday). Her half-hour sessions with one-on-one instruction are productive, she said. But sometimes teammates tease Feeney about her seemingly light school schedule. "They're so jealous," said Feeney. "If I say I'm tired they're like, 'Erin, how can you be tired? You go to school for like two hours.' They always give me a hard time about it."

Favorite sports movies

Feeney and her dad love "A League of Their Own" (1992, starting Tom Hanks and Geena Davis) and reciting famous lines like, "There's no crying in baseball!"

Learning responsibility

This past summer Feeney was a member of the Vancouver-based Columbia Cascades select basketball team. Traveling to tournaments around the country, she improved her game and also learned about life away from family. From June through July she was home for just three days. "Being away from home and living with girls in a hotel -- having to take care of yourself -- I think that's made me grow up a little as a person," Feeney said. "You can't always rely on your parents to do everything for you. You kind of have to get out of your shell at a young age."



Mike Cane writes for the Herald in Everett