EasternWA notebook: Lots of healing, then hoping for 1A girls basketball glory

Joel Yellow Owl is Zillah's new girls coach, hired a month after the death of popular coach Brandie Valadez, who died of cancer in August

Zillah alumnus Joel Yellow Owl was hired as a first-time high school girls basketball coach after ex-coach Brandie Valadez died in August from cancer. (flicksby_cesar.2 photography / Courtesy)

After a decorated basketball-playing career, and a brief high-school boys coaching stint, Joel Yellow Owl was ready to focus on his growing family.

His oldest daugh…