Lady Mustang hoops team off to surprising 9-2 start with new
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GILROY – There were a number of question marks for this year’s Gilroy High girls basketball team before the season even got under way. Several key players were lost to graduation and another starter transferred out. And there was a coaching change.
But the Lady Mustangs were not going to let any of that stand in their way of another successful campaign on the court. With each practice, came learned skills. With each game, came varsity experience. With each victory, came more confidence.
Heading into the Christmas Break, the garlic hoopsters are rolling under first-year head coach Kari Williams’ new system as they maintain a 9-2 preseason record. The Lady Mustangs have played in three preseason tournaments – reaching the championship game in each and winning one outright.
“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised. I didn’t see them play at all last year. I’m new to the area, but we had a lot of changes. They lost some seniors who were an integral part of the team last year that had a very successful season,” Williams said. “So I think that while we might be surprising other people, I don’t think the girls are surprised. And even when I talk to them about it, they knew their team dynamic was going to change, but I think they always believed in themselves.”
Williams began running more-than-two-hour practices on a daily basis – enforcing her motion offense scheme, getting her players in tip-top physical shape, and pushing them to the limit each and every day.
“Yes, I brought a new system. I brought a new coaching style. A new everything. I think a lot of things are different from last year. Maybe not better, just different,” Williams said. “We’re playing a system that works very well for what we have. We’re not a very tall team so it would be very hard to play a game where our main emphasis is to get the ball inside to score.”
So Williams brought in the motion offense – manipulating it to work for her undersized unit that does not have a single player six-foot or above.
“It’s a very well-known style. We run the motion offense and there’s so many different options and adaptations,” Williams said. “I followed Stanford basketball very closely and they’re running a motion offense so that’s where some of my ideas came from. We run the same basic plays that you see the (Los Angeles) Lakers run once in a while and the Stanford girls.”
But first Williams had to make believers out of her players – which proved to be an easier task than expected with 10 hard-working, dedicated student-athletes aboard.
“She’s a really friendly coach and she really tries to work with us and tries to make it fun for us to play. So, we actually get a long with her really well. That’s what makes it fun,” said senior guard Laura Hennessee of Williams. “Our season this year is going to be a lot better than I first thought it was because at first it was all this inexperience. But we’re gaining experience and working hard.”
Their hard work is paying off ten-fold. The Lady Mustangs work so hard in practice that they look forward to their days off – which only come when they have games.
“Our coach pushes us real hard. Our practices are a lot harder than our games,” junior guard Sarah Miller said. “We have a lot of skill and a lot of talent, but we just don’t know how to play together yet. We’re getting there. Nobody thought we’d be this good so it’s kind of great for us.”
With no superstars on the team, the 10 varsity ballers work as one cohesive unit because that’s what they have to do to be successful. Everyone on the squad knows it and everyone respects it.
“All the girls are really knowing what their role is and maybe that’s not to be the leading scorer, but it might be to be the leading rebounder or it might be the one that I say go in and do this specific thing. They understand that’s my role,” Williams said. “I think everybody is figuring out what a team is and we have to be a team because we’re not that tall, because we’re young and inexperienced.”
The most experienced player is Hennessee – a returning All-League guard who has been flourishing under Williams’ watchful eye. Hennessee – who netted 22 points in back-to-back games during the Lady Mustangs’ championship run in the Breakers Classic – was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
“Laura Hennessee has done just an incredible job. She was one of our captains, but as far as scoring, taking care of the ball, really understanding what I’m asking from her, she’s done the best,” Williams said. “She’s our best shooter right now as far as the outside goes. I think it’s something that she worked on. Basketball players are made in the offseason not during the season. This is where we get to showcase what we have.”
Hennessee confirmed her offseason work.
“I’ve always tried to work on (my shot). Last year, I had a problem with putting my elbow out and, this year when I shoot, I try to think more of just shooting correctly and trying to make it,” she said. “I know that I have to step up and we all have to do our part and (scoring) is my part.”
Another part of the Lady Mustangs’ early success is the performance of Miller – who complements Hennessee in the backcourt.
“She’s been doing a great job on the boards, rebounding when we needed important rebounds. She drives to the basket really well,” said Williams of Miller. “I still expect a lot more from her. She’s doing great things, but I expect her to really turn it up even more.”
Miller came off the bench last year as a sophomore – but this year her role has dramatically increased as well as her playing time.
“Last year I was an underclassmen and this year I have to step up and be a leader because I am an upperclassmen,” said Miller during Monday’s practice. “We get to take a break now but, once our break’s over, we’ve got to get back to business.”
The Lady Mustangs get back to business earlier than they expected with a last-minute entry into the Seaside Tournament – which began the day after Christmas. Gilroy was not originally slotted to play in the tournament. But when a team dropped out, the Lady Mustangs were ready to fill in.
“We need to keep on playing and keep on winning because that’s what gives us that drive to keep on wanting to play,” Hennessee said. “I’m happy that we have another tournament because instead of stopping completely we actually have something to do instead of getting fat on turkey or whatever.”
Senior guard Danell Dow added: “It’s very beneficial. It’s a lot better than lying around and not getting anything done and it’s more fun than practice. It’s game-time. It’s fun.”
As Coach Williams said, “Our success definitely breeds confidence and enthusiasm.”
The enthusiasm runs deep – 10 deep.
Dow – a stand-out water polo player – is another returning varsity player who had a limited role last season, but a much involved role this year.
“I’m hoping to be a starter this year. I’m working really hard for that and so far in the last couple of games I have been starting,” Dow said. “I hope to be a scorer. I want to get some points on the board. Last year, I didn’t do that and this year I’m coming out shooting more and trying to perfect my shot.”
Dow – who plays an off-wing position – has been vital for the Lady Mustangs both on the boards and on the defensive end
“She’s smaller, but she always finds the right place to be. She’s a smart basketball player. She gets in the right position and when you’re littler you have to do that. You have to box out. You have to get to the weak side or the off side to get the rebounds,” said Williams of Dow. “She’s kind of always coming up with a steal unexpectedly. She’s done really well on our press. She’s had a lot of forced turnovers and things like that.”
Up front, the Lady Mustangs are not that tall – but they do have two talented ballers in junior center Sarah Hoeft and senior swingman Jenn Olvera. Both again came off the pine last season – but have stepped it up a notch this year.
“(Olvera) is doing a great job. She injured her knee a couple of weeks ago, but she’s back in playing tough, really strong on the rebounds,” Williams said. “She’s kind of the heart of the team as far as the emotion.”
Hoeft, at five-foot-11, is the tallest Lady Mustang on this year’s roster. But whether she’s in the starting line-up or sparking her team off the bench, it does not matter to the talented post player.
“I love being on the team. It doesn’t matter if I start or not. It matters on my teamwork and how our team is doing. What I expect from our team is a lot and I try to improve them to make our goals come true,” Hoeft said. “I know that we all want to be the best and in order for that to happen we have to work hard.”
In the Breakers Classic, Hoeft was named to the All-Tournament team – registering a double-double with 20 points and 17 rebounds in a win over Seaside. The junior sensation has developed into a force down low.
Two juniors – Laila Correa and Antionette Okere – have also added some depth to the Lady Mustangs’ rotation. Although neither played varsity ball last year, they have been making much-needed contributions.
“They have both been a pleasant surprise to me as far as their play,” Williams said. “Antionette has really done some good things for us inside. She’s just learning to play basketball. She’s a hard worker. She’s one of our posts.”
Gilroy’s 10-player varsity roster also includes sophomore guards Michelle DiFiore, Shante Mancera, and Sarah Whitney.
“I think (our team chemistry) has to build. We’ve been at it for six weeks… I think that they are genuinely 10 really good kids. They’re really good people and they get along really well and they’re working really hard,” Williams said. “We’re not the best we’re going to get. The chemistry will grow along with the skills and along with the season.”
The Lady Mustangs – who scheduled non-league games against Watsonville on Jan. 3 and Washington on Jan. 4 before opening league with a Jan. 16 road game against Salinas – continue to grow as a team and work hard in practice.
“Actually, I didn’t expect it to be as good as it was. Practices are hard, much harder than games. I think that helps a lot. We’ve just come out strong and come out winning,” Dow said. “We run a lot in practice so we’re definitely up there. We’ve got girls like Laura Hennessee and Sarah Hoeft who play most of the game and they’re able to handle it. They’re very much in shape. It helps out.”
There is no settling for second fiddle this season. The early question marks have all been answered and now the Lady Mustangs are brewing with confidence and higher expectations.
“We want to win every game we play regardless of who it is,” Williams said.
