Chargers off to a fast start | Girls prep basketball preview

The Kentridge High School girls basketball team may be young, but it is poised to make a mark this season.

“We lost eight seniors last year but we’ve started really strong,” said LaDrea Ford, the Chargers’ senior captain. “… It really surprised me. I was expecting a little bit of a struggle because we’re really new, but we’ve really shown up and surprised other teams as well.”

The Chargers are off to a 3-0 start this season, having passed a big test against Curtis in the opener.

“Last year, they (Curtis) would just run the floor against us,” Ford said. ” I was expecting that again this year, but we came out and gave it to them. We actually ran the court on them.”

The young team has its eye on a playoff run.

“I think that we are really underestimated,” Ford said. “I think we are going to come out really strong and be a real tough competitor coming into playoffs. I think we are going to have a better transition to playoff season than we have in the past. We would always make it to the sweet 16, but I can see us going way farther than that this year.”

Bob Sandall, who is in his sixth year coaching the Chargers, is pleased with how the season has started but said there is always room for improvement.

“If we keep really working, we can turn into a team that can compete with just about anybody,” Sandall said.

Sandall said Kentridge is in a tough division, with formidable opponents like Kentlake and Tahoma, which basically have the same rosters from last year.

“We have got to get through that division part,” Sandall said. “I certainly think we are capable of being a playoff team.”

Last year the Chargers tied Kentlake for the Class 4A South Puget Sound League Northeast title.

Ford, who plays post, attributed the team’s early success this season to its chemistry.

“We have blended really well this year,” she said. “In past years there has been a little bit of trouble blending in and starting off the season strong. We all are pretty close so it shows on the court.”

Freshman JaQuaya Miller said the team’s upperclassmen welcomed the new players to the squad.

“The girls on the team make it easy for a freshman to come on because they’ll make you feel like you are supposed to be there, like you are supposed to be on varsity,” Miller said.

Miller, a post, said her teammates acceptance and experience playing with the Seattle Future youth basketball team helped her transition to the high school level despite its faster pace.

“My coach has trained me to play with the higher level,” she said. “It wasn’t new but it is really happening. I am really playing with seniors.”

Freshman shooting guard Hana McVicker has been able to learn a lot from the team’s veterans.

“They always give me tips on what I can do better on OVERSET FOLLOWS:and off the court,” she said

Miller said the older girls also help their younger teammates succeed in school.

“They’ll say, ‘JaQuaya make sure you’re getting your grades done, your homework done,’ ” Miller said. “I have LaDrea in my first period. She’s always on my tail making sure I get my work done. That’s good. It makes me a better student-athlete.”

Ford looks forward to the season’s outcome.

“All I can see is us getting a lot better and improving continuously, so we’ll see how it all ends,” she said.

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TEAM CAPSULES

KENTRIDGE

• Coach: Bob Sandall, sixth year

• Last year’s record: 7-1, tied for first place in the South Puget Sound League Class 4A Northeast, 17-8 overall

• Returning starters: LaDrea Ford, senior; Morgan Gary, sophomore

• Top newcomers: Tresai McCarver, soph.; Bronte Fougere, jr.; JaQuaya Miller, freshman; Hana McVicker, fresh.; Brooke Ziegenhagen, jr.; Taylor Jenkins, jr.; Payton Duff, soph.; Melanie Lane; jr.

• Strengths: Size and athleticism

• Weaknesses: “Pretty much a brand new team that needs to learn roles,” Sandall said.

• Outlook: “After graduating eight seniors last year, we are young. We do have three players returning with significant varsity experience (Fougere, Jenkins, Gary). We also have two promising freshmen.”

KENT-MERIDIAN

• Coach: Robert Hopkins, first year

• Last year’s record: 6-10 SPSL 4A NE, 7-13 overall

• Returning starters: Ashlei Robinson, sr.; Malea Reed, jr.; Sheridan Brown, sr.; Savannah Lackey, jr.

• Top newcomers: Tihanna Sanchez, fresh.; Jazzmine James, jr.; Diana Faamausili, sr.

• Strengths: Post play, defense

• Weaknesses: Height, rebounding

KENTLAKE

• Coach: GC Hillburn, first year

• Last year’s record: 7-1, tied for first place in SPSL 4A NE; 20-7, overall

• Returning starters: Kylee Johnson, jr.; Sydney Peterson, jr.; Jada Leonard, jr.; Aniston Denckla, soph.

• Top newcomers: Aolani Calderon, soph.; Emma Jackson, soph.; Karizma Loeffler, soph.; Anna Kruse, soph.; Jordan Fong, soph.; Jenn Barnes, soph.; Toni Thibbert; fresh.

• Strengths: Depth, three-point shooting and ability to play at a high tempo

• Weaknesses: New coach, new system, may have growing pains

• Outlook: “A huge amount of depth with this team. Their biggest issue will be if they become greater than the sum of their parts and every member of the team fills their assigned role,” Hillburn said..

NOTE: Kentwood did not respond to a team capsule request.

– Heidi Sanders