Now that she knows the names of her players, new Shorewood girls basketball coach Nina Lowe is starting to get a read on their game.
“They have great basketball skill,” she said. “That’s exciting because everything else you can work in practice, it’s harder to instill that basketball-sense.”
Lowe should know. A basketball standout at Shorewood who graduated in 2000, she helped the Thunderbirds to the state 3A title in 1998 as a sophomore.
“It’s nice having her experience at Shorewood,” said guard Anna Ellersick, a senior-to-be. “We have a lot of new players, young players.”
The T-birds graduated forward Jane Fleck, their leading scorer, and Rachel Eckerlin, a four-year starter at point guard off a team that qualified for the 4A District 1 tournament. That hadn’t happened since 2000.
Several key players return, however. Junior-to-be Becky Farden, a 5-9 guard was the T-birds’ second-leading scorer last year, and will likely be counted on even more this year.
Forward Tiffanie Bronson, a 5-9 senior-to-be, provided some scoring off the bench and hit some key 3-pointers last year, in addition to solid defense.
Other contributors who return include 5-11 senior-to-be Tara Dorrance, 5-10 senior-to-be Kelsey Allen and 5-11 junior-to-be Kelsey England.
Ellersick said the T-birds lack height but have quickness and athleticism.
Lowe was hired last month, but Frank Hammer, the father of senior-to-be Janelle Hammer, a 5-5 guard, coached the team in the Shoreline Center summer league with the help of junior varsity coach Judy Leach.
Lowe’s noticed some areas, particularly on defense, where the T-birds need to improve.
“From what I’ve seen in the summer league definitely boxing out (could improve),” she said. “We’ve been in good position between our player and the hoop but we haven’t put a body on people.”
Still, she said, “I’m not worried at all about that.”
Offensively, Lowe said, she plans to keep some of the aspects of previous coach Jeff Bernhardt’s system.
“We don’t have to start from scratch,” she said. “I like a few of his offenses, a couple wrinkles from those offenses. Ways to get into them from the fast break.”
The T-birds’ work ethic has impressed their new coach.
“They want to do the work,” she said. “They’re willing to put in the time and do the work to get better and make this season a success and are excited about doing it, which is huge.”
Lowe also said she’s run into old friends from high school at the grocery store who have told her they look forward to seeing her team play.
“That’s exciting that there’s an excitement from other people,” Lowe said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
