Lady Mustang JV hoops off to a 14-1 start under Coach Silva
GILROY – When it comes to Lady Mustang hoops, Coach Art Silva has the golden touch, guiding his junior varsity squad to a 14-1 start in his first season at the helm.
After totaling seven wins two years ago, Silva’s frosh unit finished with a 19-1 record last season, even winning the Lady Mustang Classic as a replacement when a junior varsity squad did not show up.
Now, the mild-mannered hoops whiz has four sophomores from last season’s freshman team joining him on junior varsity, while three others made the jump straight up to varsity. The JV Lady Mustangs already defended their garlic tournament title and also took first place in the Alisal Tournament.
“Last year that team was so tight,” Silva said. “This year half the team is freshmen from last year and freshmen from two years ago. They melted together. They all get along.”
Sophomores Heather Leuchars, Lauren Anderson, Jessica Groppe and Nina Blas are shining with Silva again on junior varsity, while sophomores Kristen Campos, Marissa Nowakowski and Catherine Hussey are getting major minutes on varsity.
Silva would love to have them all, but he knows his job is to prepare them for the next level.
“That’s all I do,” said Silva, who had to send junior forward Amanda Link up to varsity early this year. “I was figuring we’re a .500 team. The thing is they’re in so much better shape than the other teams. In the first half, they get beat, but in the second half, they can score 30, 40 points.”
Second-half comebacks characterize this year’s squad – which Silva has grown accustomed to, not getting all worked up no matter how poorly they play in the opening half.
“We just wipe everybody out, even if we look sloppy in the first half,” Silva said. “We can be behind. Versus Monterey, we were losing bad. I used to get all excited. Now I say, ‘It’s the second half, let’s go out and play.'”
And that’s what they do, losing only one of their first 15 games against Archbishop Mitty last month.
But the garlic girls aren’t intimidated when going up against private schools, compiling an impressive 3-1 record against them, earning tough wins over Notre Dame, St. Francis and Mission Hills.
“I ask them what are we doing wrong,” said Silva of his half-time talks. “They’re just a bunch of smart kids. They know what they have to do. I never yell at half-time. I do that enough during the game. We discuss what we have to do and they go out and perform.”
The 11-player roster also includes juniors Carly Leininger, Stephanie Radtke, McKenna Logan and Sierra Barroza as well as sophomores Monique Llanos, Sarah Whitney and Jannette Cid.
“It’s so strange. Some games Leuchars is hot and other games Whitney scores 20. Every game it’s different,” said Silva as he flipped through his game score-sheets. “It’s strange if you look through the book.”
Link put up big numbers before going to varsity, where she has remained ever since, and Radtke is the team’s current leading scorer, averaging 12 points-per-game.
When the Lady Mustangs need a three-pointer, they dish the rock to Leininger, who is always perched outside the arc. Leininger, who broke her foot her freshman year and rehabbed in her sophomore year, has been money from three-point range.
“Every game she makes about four threes. She’s fifty percent from out there,” Silva said. “We pop it right back out to her.”
Blas has emerged as the starting point guard for junior varsity, after coming off the bench in her freshman season, while Groppe has caught fire and never cooled off.
“(Blas) was like our third, fourth guard last year because of the girls up at varsity now. This year she took charge. She’s our point guard. She’s doing a great job,” Silva said. “(Groppe) is starting to shoot well. Every game she’s getting a couple more baskets.”
Silva can even look to Logan, who has turned it on as of late, and Leuchars, the team’s most improved player from last year.
“By the end of the Mustang Classic, the juniors were glad they ended up here (instead of varsity),” Silva said. “The number one thing about sports in high school is the kids want to have fun, or else they get burnt out.”
The Lady Mustang basketball stable is filled with promising young ballers who are waiting for their turn on varsity. This year’s freshman team is 8-5 under first-year head coach Sarah Contreras
