Barely into the second week of Grizzly and Lady Griz basketball practice, several new players are making solid first impressions.
During mid-morning Saturday pre-game football festivities, fans headed toward Washington Grizzly Stadium for the Griz-Northern Colorado game got an early glance at freshman power forward/post Dvera (pronounced duh-VUR) Tolbert of Hardin.
At 6’-0,” Tolbert casts a profile similar to Lady Griz junior post Tamara Guardipee. 
There was speculation by several onlookers -- one fan who had seen Tolbert play several times last season -- that the imposing frontcourt player might mount a challenge to serve as Guardipee’s backup this year.
PHOTO: Zach Graves defends Ryan Staudacher while (background) Brian Qvale fronts Andrew Strait.
I was personally impressed with the agressive frontcourt play of frosh Sara Ena from Kenmore, Washington and the ball-handling skills of guard Misty Atkinson from Clarkston, Washington. Both players are considered redshirt candidates for this year.
Six new players have altered the look and play of the men’s basketball squad, a development that has encouraged senior all-conference post Andrew Strait.
“We’ve got a lot of new faces on this team and there are some guys that are going to contribute that people here don’t know so much about,” said Strait.
“But they’re (fans) sure going to learn about them,” Strait added.
Among the newcomers are JC transfer point guard Ceylon Elgin-Taylor, and freshman post Brian Qvale (pronounced “kwa-lee”), power forward Derek Selvig, and wing Tyler Hurley. Two transfers -- Michael Taylor from Eastern Washington and Jack McGillis from Oregon State -- practice with the team but won’t suit up until next season.
The result, according to Strait and coach Wayne Tinkle, is a dramatically ramped-up level of practice competition.
Added Strait, “The bar’s been raised from when I was here as a freshman and it’s helped everybody on the team to practice hard and get better as an individual.”
During Saturday’s scrimmage Qvale snared a high rebound over a throng and -- with one motion -- ripped a funk slam that had even the coaches whooping.
The teams will conduct their pre-season open scrimmages at Dahlberg Arena Wednesday.
