Finishing last season with a 7-18 record, McNary Girls Basketball has tabbed a new coach to lead the coming season.

Isaiah Gentry, 27, has taken the helm and plans to make basketball more accessible to athletes in Keizer – from the youth to high school.

“McNary has had a high turnover in the last couple of years, and I’m trying to help it grow, starting in the youth programs,” he said.

Gentry has served as the team’s varsity assistant coach for the last two years and was recently hired as McNary’s health and wellness teacher.

Basketball has been a part of Gentry’s life since he was a kid in Milwaukie. After graduating from Milwaukie High School in 2016, he went on to play in college, first at Clackamas Community College and then at Vanguard University in California.

After graduating, Gentry played for Salem’s semi-professional basketball team, as well as a professional basketball team in Mexico. His coaching career began six years ago at the Legends Basketball Facility in Vancouver, Washington. 

He said that his recent involvement with youth basketball made him a strong candidate for the McNary position.

“In February, I started doing youth camps…and they just saw something in that,” he said.

He describes his approach to coaching as encouraging and supportive.

“I won’t tell somebody what they’re doing wrong without telling them how to correct it and fix it as well,” he said. 

For Gentry, the team’s overall player height remains a major challenge, which will require a playstyle adjustment.

“We need to be a stronger and faster team and play stronger and more physically,” he said.

Capitalizing on rebound opportunities, getting the ball to the point guard, and pushing quickly down the court will prove essential to their success, the new coach said.

“We are going to be a high-motor team that is looking to be the aggressor,” he said.

In the short term, Gentry hopes to develop a newfound chemistry among the players. By next season, he wants the girls to be like family.

Gentry has also set some long-term goals for the program. With his wife, Amanda Chan, serving as the  track and field coach, Gentry has roots at McNary. He plans to stay with the team for a decade. 

“In 10 years, I would love to have 50 girls trying out for basketball and being at the top of our conference,” he said.

His long-term plans include cultivating off-season youth camps and opening the gym, twice a week, for elementary and middle school basketball players during the off-season.

Gentry also hopes to start working collaboratively with other athletic programs, such as volleyball, to craft a multi-sport culture at McNary.

“A lot of girls think they should focus on one single sport without knowing that another sport could help them in other areas,” he said.

News tip? Contact reporter Riley Ellis: [email protected].

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With summer break fast approaching, Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda has announced the 2025 INDE Vacation Plan and the Summer Camps and Workshops Program by the state Department of Culture. These initiatives aim to foster sports and cultural engagement among children and teens across the region.

Speaking at her Wednesday morning press conference, the governor shared details of the cultural offerings, which will include five summer camps at state arts centers in Mexicali, Ensenada, Tecate, Tijuana, and Playas de Rosarito. Additionally, 34 individual workshops for children and teens aged 3 to 16 will be held, designed to blend creativity, play, and learning in an inclusive and dynamic environment.

The cultural camps will run from July 14 to August 8, with the exception of Mexicali, where they will take place from July 11 to 31. Camps are scheduled for the morning, while the individual workshops will be held in the afternoon.

In San Quintín, the workshop The Fantastic World of Leonora Carrington will offer classes in art, music, dance, and theater for youth aged 8 to 16, completely free of charge. Alma Delia Ábrego Ceballos, head of the Baja California’s Department of Culture, emphasized the importance of accessible, quality cultural programming across the region.

Meanwhile, the 2025 INDE Vacation Plan, set to run from July 14 to August 1, will offer a wide range of sports activities for children and teens aged 6 to 13, including participants with disabilities. The program will be hosted at Ciudad Deportiva in Mexicali and high-performance centers in Ensenada and Tijuana.

Participating youth will have the opportunity to train in athletics, wrestling, fencing, soccer, basketball, swimming, field hockey, taekwondo, archery, badminton, gymnastics, handball, and other sports depending on the municipality. Laura Marmolejo Toscano, Director of the Sports and Physical Culture Institute, noted that the activities will be led by professional coaches at top-tier facilities. Sessions will run from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a recovery fee of 1,495 pesos.

These programs reflect Baja California’s continued investment in the development, well-being, and creativity of its youngest residents during the summer months.

Mily Animal Sanctuary Expands Facilities in Mexicali

In a separate announcement, Governor Marina del Pilar shared updates on the third phase of construction at Mily Sanctuary, aimed at rescuing and rehabilitating abused or abandoned animals while promoting respect for all living beings.

She confirmed that work is underway on three new entry areas, increasing the sanctuary’s capacity from 109 to 270 dogs, along with upgrades to recreational spaces and the crematorium.

“Animal well-being is a key policy we’ve championed, solidifying Baja California as the state with the strongest animal rights laws. Mily Sanctuary is welcoming volunteers this summer to support our mission,” the governor said.

Mónica Vega Aguirre, head of the Department of Environment and Sustainable Development, reported that since its 2024 opening, 183 animals have been adopted, with over 670 volunteers joining the cause. Those interested in adopting or volunteering may call: (686) 591-6897 or (686) 591-7107.

RELATED VIDEO: Governor Marina del Pilar promotes “Women Behind the Wheel”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) – The Capitol City has a new record, and its not related to Abraham Lincoln. The new dome at the Scheels Sports Park is the largest air-supported sports dome in the world, according to the project team.

“This marks a milestone for the park and for our city and it is a visible indicator of our progress in the city,” said Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher. “We are expecting the Scheels Sports Park to bring 250,000 new visitors to Springfield, providing 25 million in an annual boost to our local economy and over 50,000 new hotel nights.” 

The dome is more than 710 feet long and 275 feet wide. At it’s peak, the dome is 98 feet tall. 

“To give you a perspective of how huge this dome is, the entire Scheels store plus another half of the store could fit comfortably inside the dome,” said Chris Stritzel, project manage3r for the Scheels Sports Park. “Every soybean harvested last year in Sangamon County could fi inside that dome.” 

The project is on track to open for local school athletes this fall. The team hopes to host tournament starting in 2026. 

“The Springfield Clinic dome, anchored by Scheels Sports Park, will house one of the most sought after youth sporting venues in the nation,” said Ryan McCrady, CEO of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance. “The sports park will include eight outdoor, all-synthetic, turf, lighted fields that will be convertible for multi-sport play, including up to 15 youth baseball or softball diamonds, which can also play as six full size adult baseball fields, if needed or eight full size soccer fields at one time.”

The dome is fully inflated, but not fully set up. First the team will install lights inside the dome. They will then install flooring and netting before opening the facility to the public.

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The Manchester Youth Soccer League (MYSL) is entering its 47th year of servicing the fall soccer needs of Manchester, Dorset, Rupert, Pawlet, and Danby. Although “playtime” is months away, “registration time” is now. Here are the specifics:

Grades Pre-kindergarten through third grade will begin on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 9 a.m.

Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten co-ed meet every Saturday morning through Oct. 25, while grades 1 and 2 (boys/girls) meet Saturday mornings and one night per week. Cost per player is $35.

Grades 3-6 (travel teams) practice twice per week (either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday) at roughly 5:15 p.m. beginning Aug. 25. Games are played on Saturdays beginning Sept. 6 and ending on Oct. 25. The cost per player is $50 plus $25 for a uniform (jersey, shorts, and socks). However, if last year’s uniform fits or you have access to a hand-me-down, there’s no need to purchase a new one.

All boys and girls are welcome and participate equally regardless of ability or prior experience. Emphasis is put on learning the game; instilling good social values; and having FUN!

For additional information including online registration links, please contact Steve Houseman at myslvt@gmail.com.