Davidson returns to state, on the bench

DES MOINES - Sarah Davidson is a volunteer assistant coach. She's a bridge between generations, a link between winning girls' basketball teams at Springville.

'I think the kids look at me as somebody's who has been there,” Davidson said. 'I've been where they want to get to.”

Davidson, 23, was a starter on Springville's Class 1A state-championship team of 2008, still the only Gazette-area team to win a small-school five-player title.

After receiving her elementary-education degree at Quincy (Ill.) University, Davidson returned home.

She lives in Springville and serves as a substitute teacher in the Cedar Rapids area.

Orioles Coach Nate Sanderson requested Davidson's services as a coach for Springville's sixth-grade club team last year, then called her up to join him on the varsity bench this winter.

She also assists for the volleyball program.

'Sarah connects well with the kids because she's younger and she's been in their shoes,” Sanderson said. 'She was part of the legacy that proved that anything was possible at Springville.”

Davidson was a junior when the Orioles won it all in 2008. They returned in 2009, falling a point short in an overtime final against Ackley AGWSR.

'Walking out of the tunnel (Monday), I saw a lot of flashbacks, both good and bad,” Davidson said.

'It's awesome to be back, and I still have a little chip on my shoulder. But it allows me to stress to the kids that it's important to play each ball, because one little thing can make a big difference.”

Davidson is engaged to be married in June, but a splint replaced a ring on her finger after suffering a broken digit a few days ago.

After five straight losing seasons, Monday marked Springville's first appearance at Wells Fargo Arena since the 2009 heartbreak. This time, they opened with a 53-50 win over No. 4 Fremont-Mills.

The Orioles' best days appear to be ahead, with four freshmen playing prominent roles, including starters Rylee Menster and Mikayla Nachazel.

'That freshman class, it's a spitting image of what we had,” Davidson said.

Another member of the Springville Class of 2009, Carly Martin coaches the school's fifth graders.

EXTRA EARLY EXIT

Courtney Abolt may have sent a tournament record for earliest disqualification via foul-out.

Abolt, a senior reserve at Burlington Notre Dame, picked up her fourth foul with about a minute left in the second quarter of Monday's Class 1A quarterfinal against Central Lyon.

Coach Kollin Alfred left her in the game, and she picked up No. 5 at the 0:40 mark of the second quarter.

The top-ranked, defending-champion Nikes rallied from a six-point third-quarter deficit to win, 78-60. They'll face No. 7 Newell-Fonda in the semifinals Wednesday night.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com