Change is sweeping across the Kentlake High girls basketball courts this winter.
“We’re very green in the post this year,” deadpanned sixth-year coach Scott Simmons. “We’re no longer big.”
Indeed. Kentlake graduated four-fifths of its starting lineup from last season, including 6-foot-3 center Riley Butler (Seattle Pacific University) and 6-foot-1 do-it-all forward Morgan Comstock (Eastern Washington University).
“It’s going to be different,” Simmons pointed out. “I’ve never had a team that’s predominantly ballhandlers. It’s unique, but exciting at the same time.”
It also will be challenging for Simmons and the Falcons, especially when considering Comstock (17.1 points, 10.1 rebounds per game) and Butler (8.75 points, 9.5 rebounds) led the team in virtually every offensive category.
However, that challenge won’t be finding the right Xs and Os on a game-by-game basis or even competing in the ultra-competitive South Puget Sound League North Division.
Instead, the challenge for Simmons will be convincing the girls of their true abilities.
“The key to our success is for them to believe they can make things happen,” the coach said. “They’re good enough shooters to be successful.”
And good enough distributors of the ball as well. In fact, returners Jessica Barnes and Erin Hunt were among the league leaders last winter in assists per game. Yet, to make a playoff push this winter, Kentlake will essentially have to reinvent itself from a year ago. Instead of bruising inside for buckets or relying on Comstock to create, the Falcons will need to play impeccable defense and limit the numbers of turnovers.
If the Falcons can accomplish both, a playoff berth is in reach, Simmons believes.
“Our goal is to make the playoffs, and I think we can,” he said. “If we can play .500 in league, that will probably give us one of the five playoff spots. It’s doable. We have some ground to cover, but I definitely think we can make it.”
To cover that ground, the sixth-year coach is using a roster that runs nine deep, which includes a pair of players who shuffle between junior varsity and varsity. The goal is to get more 1-on-1 time with the players and, essentially, speed up the learning curve.
“With a smaller roster, they will get a lot more coaching and individual time,” Simmons said. “When you try and get 10, 11, 12 players, it’s tough to get in a rhythm or a flow. And we need to find that pretty quickly.”
FALCONS: AT A GLANCE
• COACH: Scott Simmons, sixth year.
• LAST YEAR: 9-8 in league (fourth), 15-11 overall.
• TOP RETURNERS: Jessica Barnes, sr, guard; Erin Hunt, sr., guard; Alyssa Simonson, jr., guard; Stephanie Luce, so., center; Paige Engeland, jr., forward; Donneisha Webber so., forward.
• TOP NEWCOMERS: Nicole Luce, sr., forward.
• STATE HISTORY: Kentlake has advanced to the state tournament four times, most recently in 2007.
• OUTLOOK: This will undoubtedly be a year of transition for Kentlake, which graduated four starters and will be shifting gears into a more guard-oriented style of play. With Jessica Barnes, Erin Hunt and Alyssa Simonson leading the way, there’s enough talent at the guard position to make some waves in the SPSL North. A league title is likely out of the question, but there’s no reason the Falcons shouldn’t challenge for one of the final three playoff berths from the North.
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