[Article by contributing sports writer Rhett Workman, owner of Snoqualmie Valley Sports Journal]
The Mount Si High School’s boys and girls’ basketball seasons finished up with tremendous success for both teams. But a MSHS grad continues to find success on the basketball floor – as a college coach.
2005 Mount Si alum Rachel Travis, from North Bend, is on the coaching staff of the University of South Alabama’s women’s basketball team – and they very much are in contention for a national postseason tournament berth thanks to a very strong season. South Alabama is in the thick of the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference tournament, having won their first two games, including their game on Wednesday in New Orleans where they beat Texas State University. The team is 22-9 on the season.
This is Travis’ second season as an assistant on the Jaguars’ women’s basketball coaching staff, led by head coach Terry Fowler. The Valley native, following her graduation from Mount Si, had a successful four years as a college player with Northwest University in Kirkland. After graduation, she moved to Florida and became a successful high school coach before becoming a college assistant, first with Virginia’s Longwood University, and now at South Alabama, located in Mobile.
The Jaguars’ chances of making the NCAA national Division I women’s basketball tournament are remote. They’ll likely need to win their conference tournament as their league, consisting primarily of universities in the southeastern United States, is expected to only receive one bid to the 64-team tournament. There are two other postseason tournaments the team could be invited to based on their strong record this season. Look for the UoSA to land a berth into one of those tournaments, and if that occurs, Valley fans will have a team they can cheer for with a local on board during the upcoming women’s college basketball postseason.
The Sun Belt tournament runs through this weekend, and if you have ESPN+ on your phone or smart TV, the games are available there as part of the service’s subscription.
We wish coach Travis and her team luck as their postseason run continues!
