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    WEEK IN REVIEW
    Friday
    No serious injuries in crash involving Arlingto...
    Salish Sea: Huge body of water now has common n...
    Cost of dispute falls on Monroe
    Thursday


    Nursed to health by volunteers in Lynnwood, sea...
    Everett boy left with brain damage; father face...
    Monroe must fill $290,000 gap in budget
    Wednesday


    81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored...
    USO singer's voice still charms them in Edmonds
    Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme C...
    Tuesday


    Fire destroys Emory's restaurant
    Peggy Pritchard Olson always put Edmonds first
    Camano Island burglaries spike: Is Colton back?
    Monday


    Tree clearing, mud slide angers Everett neighbor
    Later start for school day unlikely in Marysville
    Hopes for Snohomish excursion train may hinge o...
    Sunday


    Glacier Peak freshman overcomes jitters to win ...
    Gay marriage issue can wait, say Referendum 71 ...
    Cities across south Snohomish County see tax re...
    Saturday


    Thousands honor slain Seattle police officer Ti...
    Suspect identified in Seattle police killing
    Mountlake Terrace thrilled by high school's fir...
     

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    Kevin Brown, Sports Editor
    kbrown@heraldnet.com
     
    Published: Tuesday, January 6, 2009

    Timeout with ... Kirsten Kramer, senior, Granite Falls basketball

    After a rough beginning, Kirsten Kramer has come a long way in basketball. When Kramer tried the sport in fifth grade, the outlook seemed bleak.

    "I was so horrible," she said. "I could not make a layin. I could not dribble to save my life."

    But now Kramer is an experienced starter for the 3-3 Granite Falls Tigers, who are enjoying plenty of success this season. The 5-foot-9 forward contributes in a variety of ways, averaging 5.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and one steal per game.

    Off the court, Kramer has endured family difficulties that created a frequently changing home life. Over the past four years she has lived at four different residences. She currently stays with her older sister Alissa, who Kramer said is a supportive pal.

    "She is like a mother figure to me and also one of my best friends," said Kramer.

    Coach's corner

    Elected co-captain by her teammates, Kramer leads by example at every practice, Granite Falls girls basketball coach Mark Neuman said: "She tends to be positive with her teammates and works hard every day in practice. She does a little bit of everything for us."

    Long-awaited win

    Kramer scored 10 points Dec. 12 in Granite Falls' 48-42 victory over King's. It was the first time Granite Falls defeated the Knights since Kramer started high school. "It was so amazing. I could have cried," Kramer said. "The whole team was in sync and we were all together. We finally accomplished something that we've been working for for four years."

    A surprising trip

    Last season during a practice in Granite Falls' then-new gym Kramer suddenly fell while she sprinted near midcourt. No one was near her. "I tripped and it made the loudest noise. Everybody was just keeling over laughing," she said. "It was so embarrassing but all I could do was laugh."

    Gaining confidence

    Asked to name the most valuable lesson she's gained from playing basketball, Kramer said: "You have to have confidence in yourself and in your teammates. Once you do that, if you have confidence in yourself, then things start to fall into place."

    Making the grade

    In addition to working a part-time job at a tanning salon, Kramer has a 3.4 cumulative grade-point average. She takes calculus and chemistry, participates in student government and is in leadership class. Said Kramer, "I take pride in being a student-athlete. I put being a student before being an athlete."

    Favorite movie

    "The Dark Knight" (2008) starring Christian Bale as Batman and Heath Ledger as the Joker. Unlike plenty of other films, this one was constantly exciting, Kramer said: "I didn't get bored. The whole two hours I was just like, 'No way can this end right now!' It was awesome."

    Mike Cane, Herald Writer

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