Wildcat duo proud of the foundation they are leaving behind

For Marley Chambers and Abby Arthur their basketball season came to a premature ending, but that hasn’t negated what they accomplished this season.

The all-league senior guard tandem was big for the Wildcats this season, as they led Kellogg in scoring and were the players who had the ball in their hands at the end of tight games.

The aforementioned premature ending was a 54-51 loss in the District I tournament to Priest River, who played their best game of the season and won the game in the final minute.

“That game was both the high and low point of the season for us I think,” Arthur said. “That game was so intense and so fun to play in, but when it was over, the reality of it being our last game was really tough to stomach.”

Chambers agreed with her teammate, but also elaborated.

“That game will be what I think about the most, but I think what we accomplished this season was bigger than one game,” Chambers said. “We won more league games then we have in a long time and most our losses were close, except for our games with Timberlake.”

Chambers is absolutely right too, those nine non-Timberlake losses came by an average of seven points, which is the difference between a tight game or some late game free throws contributing to a loss.

The Wildcats also tied for second place in the Intermountain League with a 5-3 record after only winning one IML contest the year before.

The girls are hoping the success they did have this past season continues to grow with the teammates they are leaving behind.

“We had so much fun, I am going to miss all the fun we had together,” Chambers said. “There was never any drama or anything like that which made it very easy to play together.”

Arthur waxed more on the sentimental side.

“I hope that the younger girls realize how fast this all goes and don’t take it for granted,” Arthur said. “When I was a sophomore and a junior I didn’t care as much because it wasn’t my senior year, but this year I wanted it bad and it all happened so fast. I hope the other girls think about this as they continue to play.”

Next year’s squad will have three juniors returning as seniors, but Chambers and Arthur know where the motor for the girls is going to have to come from.

“Kaili (Cates) is going to have to continue to get better like she has over the last two years,” Chambers said. “I’m going to miss playing with Kaili, she worked hard and was a lot of fun to be around.”

Both Arthur and Chambers are pursuing sports after high school basketball.

Chambers has already signed on to play volleyball and basketball at Green River College in Auburn, Wash., and Arthur will play softball for the Wildcats this season and is weighing an offer to play basketball at Spokane Falls Community College.

Chambers and Arthur will be playing in the District I All-Star game at 6 p.m. on Friday night at the Mullan Pavilion.