New Mavs coach stresses familiar themes

LYNNWOOD — The beginning of a new chapter for the Meadowdale girls basketball team looked an awful like some of the previous chapters.

Under new coach Dan Taylor, the Mavericks opened the season with a convincing and confidence-boosting 71-63 victory over defending Class 4A state champion Garfield last week at Meadowdale High School.

The Mavericks’ trademark relentless pressure defense again proved to be too much for the opposition to handle.

“It’ll be the same,” Taylor said of Meadowdale’s defensive approach. “The tradition will continue. We’re not going to let up just because there’s a change in the guard. We’ll continue to put that same pressure on every team we play.”

If the Mavericks looked familiar it’s because they return four of five starters from last year’s undefeated Western Conference South Division champion.

The lone missing link is former point guard Ashley Fenimore and her role is being filled by Eryn Jones, who saw a lot of playing time as Fenimore’s backup.

Despite all of the returners, Meadowdale came into the season opener with some uncertainty because of the new coach.

“I really didn’t know what to expect going in,” said junior guard Marelle Moehrle. “They still had a good team. It was kind of up in the air who was going to win it. I thought we had good defense and that’s what I like to see.”

Taylor takes over a program that underwent a tumultuous offseason following former coach Karen Blair’s messy resignation. Blair, who is now the head coach at Ballard High School, guided the Mavericks to a pair of state titles during her 11-year tenure as head coach. But she cited a lack of support from the district as one of the reasons she resigned. Blair and the Meadowdale program were under a two-year probation at the time of her departure.

As far as Taylor could determine, the off-season distractions didn’t really have much of an impact on the players and they gave him a warm welcome.

“I feel like the girls let it flow off their shoulders pretty quickly,” Taylor said. “Of course, there’re going to be mixed feelings, but for the most part, they’re excited to have a new coach … they let it roll of their shoulders because they want to play basketball bottom line.”

Meadowdale’s victory over Garfield definitely boosted Taylor and his players’ spirits at a most opportune time.

“It gave us confidence in ourselves and a new coach,” said senior post Caitlyn Rohrbach. “Everything is new. I think there is a lot of uncertainties, but it gave us some confidence in what we’re capable of doing. As long as we keep working hard we’re going to go far.”

Rohrbach and Moehrle both started last season along with senior guard Latrina Woods and senior post Cambria Smith.

Four players scored in double figures with Rohrbach (16 points) and Jones (15 points) leading the way.

“Every coach would like to have this kind of talent,” Taylor said. “They’re smart basketball players. I feel like I can coach them in anything and they’ll be able to execute it.”

Jones showed why she earned honorable mention, all-league recognition. She dished out nine assists, had no turnovers and had two blocks and two steals in what Taylor described as a stellar performance for a point guard.

“I think she’s definitely stepped it up even in just the past couple of weeks, taking on the leadership role that a point guard has to have,” Rohrbach said. “I think she’ll continue to develop her skills and continue to become a better leader and really impact this team this year.”

Last year’s state run was a short one for the Mavericks, who were bounced after two games. All of the players, especially the three seniors, are motivated to finish out their high school careers with a better showing.

“No one wants to get bumped out in the first two rounds,” Rohrbach said. “I think we all have the same goal in mind this year and we’re going to work to get back there and try to at least place and do what we can do. I definitely think the seniors, being our last year, we want to make a run for it and have no regrets.”

Rohrbach said that Taylor brings a lot to the Meadowdale program.

This is Taylor’s first head coaching position. He was an assistant boys coach four out of the last five years (three at Lynnwood High and one at Juanita in Kirkland). Taylor has taught physical education at Lynndale Elementary the last six years.

“He definitely has a passion for the game,” Rohrbach said. “He cares about each of us and he just wants to see us excel in our game individually and as a team.”

There is nowhere Taylor would rather be than at Meadowdale. He feels the community has embraced him.

“It’s been great, a great experience,” Taylor said. “Parents, students, the staff, everybody is very supportive and very encouraging. I just love it here.”