Golder taking basketball talents to Eastern Washington University
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER) Sandpoint senior Trinity Golder signs a letter of intent to play basketball next season at EWU. Pictured back row, from left to right: Sandpoint athletic director Kris Knowles, Tracy Golder, Julie Golder, former Bulldog head coach Duane Ward and current Bulldog head coach Will Love.
SANDPOINT — A streaky shooter with excellent range, Sandpoint senior Trinity Golder will be taking her hoops talent to the next level, signing a letter of intent to play basketball next season as a preferred walk-on at Eastern Washington University.
Golder, a 5-11 shooting guard/wing, had a breakout season as a junior, before an off-season knee injury cost her most of her senior season. As a preferred walk-on, she will get to practice with the team, and could potentially earn a scholarship down the road.
Golder visited the Big Sky program in Cheney, and liked everything about it, right down to the creative writing and art program she plans to major in.
“The campus, the team and the coaches were super welcoming. They offered what I was looking for academically,” described Golder of what drew her to EWU. “The new level of competition. Everybody there is amazing. It will be a good team dynamic to work with, and the traveling will be fun.”
The signing re-unites Golder with teammate Grace Kirscher, who recently signed to play for Eastern Washington as well.
“I’m very excited, we’re both really happy about it,” said Golder, who played two season with Kirscher after transferring from Bonners Ferry. “They (EWU coaches) see me as a good 3-point shooter. That’s my best strength as a basketball player.”
And how. Despite being injured for most of her senior season, Golder returned in time to show what a dangerous sniper she can be, draining four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of a big win over Moscow.
As a junior she had six games of 20 plus points and three over 25, and showed the ability to fill it up by pouring in 66 points in three games at state. With the injury now healed, Golder can combine her sharp outside shooting, featuring a hair-trigger and fluid shot from beyond the arc, with the ability to get to the rim.
Her high school coach the past two seasons had high praise for Golder.
“She’s the best pure shooter that I’ve coached, with a quick release that’s hard to defend,” said Duane Ward, high praise from a coach with decades of experience. “She’s an outstanding perimeter player and outside shooter. I think she can stretch the floor for them (EWU).”
The signing means three former Bulldogs will be playing in the Big Sky Conference next winter, with Madi Schoening currently tearing it up at Montana.