Girls basketball to overcome team’s small size with big play
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December 1, 2009
Evan Luse
Typically, the giants of our world rule the game of basketball, but that’s not the case for the Hoban girls basketball team. With an average height of 5′ 6″, the team will not look to intimidate with physical stature but instead with a new and aggressive style of play.
Coming off of a 20-3 season including a school record 17 consecutive wins and an undefeated record in the NCL, the squad will need young talent to step up big. Two returning seniors, 1st Team All-NCL Krissy Sokol and Honorable Mention NCL Taneka Lewis, will look to lead the Knights with solid varsity experience under their belts. However, these two key players have noticed the overall smaller stature of the team.
“We will get around our size issue by running the ball and making sure we are aggressive down low to make our presence felt,” Sokol said.
Lewis likewise feels that this obstacle can be surmounted with a few new wrinkles to the game plan heading into the season.
“We’ll have to play a more full court game and not get caught up in half court games with bigger teams,” Lewis said. “We will fast break and put pressure on the ball and trap to cause easy turnovers to get easy points.”
Last season the team was able to generate a 20-win season with the help of highly decorated graduates Rachel Tecca, Nikki D’Amico and Brittany Brown– all current college athletes. Along the way, the team was able to capture its fourth consecutive NCL Blue Division Championship and an OHSAA Sectional Championship.
Tecca, a member of the women’s basketball program at the University of Akron, feels strongly that despite the small stature of this year’s team great accomplishments can be made.
“The Hoban girls have great potential for this season,” Tecca said. “They may be small, but they have great shooters and great speed.”
The team will need to capitalize on precise shooting and team speed as they face a rigorous schedule. Sixth-year head coach Tracy Miller believes that they can find success nonetheless.
“We play a tough schedule opening with Ursuline, St. Vincent-St. Mary and Walsh, but we are ready,” Miller said. “We are young this year and our biggest challenge will be finding a continuity with five girls playing together at one time on the court.”
Lewis agrees that gelling as a single unit will be the most important task this season.
“Team chemistry at this point is good. It’s better than it has been in the past,” Lewis said. “We kick it together on and off the court and it will work in our favor in the long run.”
Another challenge to be faced this season is the inexperience of underclassmen. Leading the way will be junior and Second Team NCL member Emily Orsini.
“They are also very young, but it seems like they are all eager to learn and have the desire to win,” Tecca said.
Despite the challenges to be faced this season on the court, Lewis feels that the most important battle will be fought while the clock is not running.
“Our biggest key to success will be our mentality and the mindset we have going into games,” Lewis said. “You have to know you can do something before you can actually do it.”
The preparations made on and off the court will be on full display this Saturday as the squad tangles with rival St. Vincent-St. Mary at 2:30 PM in Barry Gym.
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