Two wins and they were in.
After an inconsistent, injury-riddled season, last year’s GHS
girls’ basketball team made a surprising late-season run all the
way to the CCS title game before losing for the third time to
Salinas.
Now…
Two wins and they were in.
After an inconsistent, injury-riddled season, last year’s GHS girls’ basketball team made a surprising late-season run all the way to the CCS title game before losing for the third time to Salinas.
With four starters and seven seniors returning, the Mustangs are now aiming for even greater success.
“We definitely think getting to the championship game was a big step for us,” senior co-captain Michelle DiFiore said. “But we’ve been there and gotten a taste of it.
“We want the whole thing now.”
And they’d like to start the run a little earlier this time, beginning with tonight’s 7pm home game against Andrew Hill.
Battling injuries to a host of players, including key seniors Sarah Hoeft and Sarah Miller, the Mustangs began last season losing six of their first eight and never fully recovered until the end.
Gilroy finished the regular season 11-15 (3-7 TCAL) and had to petition to gain a bid into CCS, where they beat Piedmont Hills and shocked Alisal before falling to the Cowboys 68-51 in front of a large crowd at San Jose State.
“We’d love to play in the big arena again. That was a lot of fun,” GHS head coach Kari Williams said. “But we also understand that’s 25 or so games from now.”
Until then, don’t expect Williams to let up on her team.
Because of the bevy of bumps and bruises, last season’s practices were much lighter than she would’ve liked.
This season?
When asked to describe the run-happy practices – some of which have lasted up to three and a half hours – junior guards Kristen Campos and Katherine Hussey both used the word “intense” almost immediately.
“Some of people have told us, ‘Oh, those practices sound so hard,'” Hussey said. “But that’s OK because we want to be tested like that. We want to improve.”
DiFiore, one of three Mustangs entering a third year of varsity ball, said she’s gotten the same sense from her teammates.
“Everyone has a really good attitude and wants to be here,” she said. “The practices can be pretty hard, but everyone is giving it their full effort.”
The key to that statement is everyone.
Much like GHS boys’ coach Bud Ogden, Williams said she didn’t exactly feel comfortable looking too far down the bench last season.
Not so this year.
She also said the Mustangs too often relied on Hoeft to carry them. And when that wasn’t working, it would be up to Campos, quite a burden for a sophomore point guard.
Again, not so this year.
Williams said several of her forwards have recently been lights out from 12-15 feet out, and that four of her guards – Campos, Hussey, Marissa Nowakowski and Shanté Mancera – have the green light to shoot three-pointers at any time.
“I’m really happy depth-wise … there’s not a fall off at all,” the third-year coach said. “At some point in the season, I really think every person on this team can be the leading scorer in a game.”
She’s also happy about returning the most starters since she’s been at Gilroy – and the most seniors.
Changing to a two-guard offense due to a plethora of medium-sized players won’t hurt matters, either.
Williams said the change will allow the Mustangs to work their offense to either side and make defenders play where they’re not used to playing.
“We had to take some lumps last year,” she said. “So maybe we can dish out a few this time around. Maybe we can return the favor and not get whooped.”
Not getting whooped won’t be good enough, though. Not this year. Not after coming so close to a section title last spring.
“That’s our goal, to go to CCS and win it,” senior center Amanda Link said. “We’re really motivated to do that.
“We’ve gotten a taste of what victory feels like and we’re ready to get back. Every girl is dedicated to doing so.”
