“Just one game away from the state tournament last March, the South Whidbey girls basketball team hit an impenetrable road block in Marysville-Pilchuck.At the beginning of the 1998-1999 season, the team’s starters never thought they would match up against the state’s number one 3A team in a battle to make state. But, back this year with a similar varsity lineup, the Falcons know what they can do and are determined to do it — shoot for the state 2A tournament.“We know how far we can go,” said Falcon senior Kelsey Ellis, who was one of the team’s scoring leaders last year.With Ellis, fellow seniors Sierra Tornga, Lindsay Sievers, and Daylene Waterman, and power sophomore Hilary Wick penciled into the starting roles this season, Falcon coach Nancy Ricketts (formerly Cole) said the 1999/2000 Falcons should pack almost the same punch they did last year. They lost Kendrah Wick, Laura Sankey and Ashley Meyring to graduation, plus Kisha Kalahiki — who recently moved out of the district.Cole said she saw enough of Ellis, Tornga, and Hilary Wick last year to know that they will give the team consistent scoring and defense over the long haul. But, she said, the real surprises this year are coming from Waterman and Sievers. Both are showing more aggression and speed under the basket than than they every have before. The team will need that, since it is on average a few inches shorter than the other teams in the division. The team’s pluck will be good enough to earn a high rank in the league and a trip to district, Cole said.But there’s bound to be trouble on the road ahead. Cole said northern teams like Blaine, Nooksack, and Lynnwood Christian are going to be tough as bearcats when they match up against the Falcons this season. “The Whatcom teams live and breathe basketball,” Cole said.Even with those reputations on the minds of the Falcons, Daylene Waterman sums up the team’s condition best.“I’m ready,” she said.The Falcons play their first game on Dec. 1 against Bellevue Christian on the road.ScheduleDec. 1 Bellevue Christian Away 7 p.m. 5:15 p.m.varsity n/g JVDec. 3 Coupeville Home 6:15 p.m. 4:30 p.m. n/aDec. 3 Coupeville Away n/a n/a 3:30 p.m.Dec. 4 Seattle Prep Away n/g n/g 1 p.m.Dec. 10 Lynden Christian Home 7:30 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 5:45 p.m.Dec. 11 Sultan Away 7:30 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 5:45 p.m.Dec. 13 Sedro-Woolley Away n/g n/g 5:45 p.m.Dec. 14 Blaine Away 7 p.m. 5:15 p.m. n/gDec. 15 Mt. Vernon Home n/g n/g 6 p.m.Dec. 17 Lakewood Home 7:30 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 5:45 p.m.Dec. 21 Coupeville Home n/g n/g 5:30 p.m.Dec. 29/30 Falcon Classic Home TBA TBA n/gJan. 4 Blanchet Away n/g n/g 5 p.m.Jan. 7 Meridian Away 7:30 p.m. 5:45 p.m. n/gJan. 8 Meridian Home n/g n/g 5:45 p.m.Jan. 11 Granite Falls Home 7:30 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 5:45 p.m.Jan. 14 Mt. Baker Home 7:30 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 5:45 p.m.Jan. 15 Nooksack Home n/g n/g 1 p.m.Jan. 21 Nooksack Home 7:30 p.m. 5:45 p.m. n/gJan. 21 Nooksack Away n/g n/g 5:45 p.m.Jan. 22 Lynden Christian Away 7:30 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 5:45 p.m.Jan. 28 Sultan Home 7:30 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 5:45 p.m.Jan. 29 Blaine Home 7 p.m. 5:15 p.m. n/gFeb. 1 Lakewood Away 7 p.m. 5:15 p.m. 5:15 p.m.Feb. 8 Meridian Home 7 p.m. 5:15 p.m. n/gFeb. 9 Meridian Away n/g n/g 7:30 p.m.Feb. 11 Granite Falls Away 7:30 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 5:45 p.m.Feb. 12 Mt. Baker Away 7 p.m. 5:15 p.m. 5:15 p.m.Feb. 15 Nooksack Away 5:15 p.m. 7 p.m. n/g”