The only direction to go this winter is up for the Kentridge High girls basketball team.
But first-year coach Bob Sandall is fully aware it’s going to take a complete buy in from everybody who steps onto the floor.
“The girls worked hard over the summer and made some pretty significant improvements,” Sandall said. “It’s looking good. The kids are buying into what we’re trying to do.”
What the Chargers are trying to do this season consists of baby steps. Baby steps that will first lead them out of the cellar in the ultra-competitive South Puget Sound League North Division and, hopefully, into contention for one of the five playoff berths. But it’s going to take time. Time and a good amount of patience.
Sandall, who has taken over for Mark Champoux, is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead. Champoux stepped down after last season and posted a 19-61 overall record in four years at the helm of the program.
This season is based more on making improvements and bringing intensity to the floor each game opposed to how many wins the Chargers can collect.
“You have to go step by step,” said Sandall, who coached at Kentwood in the 1980s and at Kentlake from 199-2001. “If the only way you measure yourself is by the scoreboard, then it’s going to be tough to see improvement.”
Indeed. However, the Chargers have enough talented pieces to easily surpass last year’s 1-19 campaign. Though Kentridge graduated its top three scorers — Megan Merrill (6.0 points per game), Taylor Riley (5.9) and Alissa Martin (5.0) — there’s quality returning to the floor. Those quality returners expected to bring zap back into the Charger offensive punch include 5-foot-11 post Sydney Dupuis along with guards Haley Crusch, Marisa Carpenter and forward Stephanie Keowla. Kentridge also has received a nice infusion of newcomers led by Shannon Paglia, Kyla Kitts, Jordan Denny and Tasia Schanbeck.
Controlling the tempo of the games will be vital for a team that lacks one go-to player, Sandall noted.
“Were going to be a little more patterned offensively and will try and control the pace of the game more,” said Sandall, who was Champoux’s assistant last year. “We’re going to have to shoot the ball really well and be just relentless in rebounding. We’ll have to work hard on the defensive end, and be fundamentally sound.”
Of course, that’s easier said than done in a North Division that traditionally advances two and sometimes three teams to state. Three teams (Auburn Riverside, Kentwood and Federal Way) advanced to the state tournament last winter. The outlook is a bit different this season as Federal Way has moved to the SPSL South and Mount Rainier, which played in the Class 3A Seamount League last year, has joined the ranks.
“There are just no days off in this league,” Sandall said.
And while that may be the case, Sandall likes what he has seen from his bunch this year.
“There’s no margin for error for us. We need to do things right,” he said. “I know that the girls are willing.”
CHARGERS: AT A GLANCE
• COACH: Bob Sandall, 1st year.
• LAST YEAR: 0-16 in league, 1-19 overall.
• TOP RETURNERS: Sydney Dupuis, jr., post; Haley Crusch, jr., guard; Marisa Carpenter, jr., guard; Stephanie Keowla, sr., post.
• TOP NEWCOMERS: Shannon Paglia, sr., guard; Kyla Kitts, sr., post; Jordan Denny, jr., guard; Tasia Schanbeck, jr., guard.
• STRENGTHS: Quickness, shooting.
• WEAKNESSES: Inexperience, height.
• LAST STATE APPEARANCE: 1988.
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