The Mountlake Terrace girls basketball team is sporting a familiar look.
The Hawks return four players — seniors Kori Seidlitz, Wytia Peeples, Tiffany Staley and junior Corrine Pingul
But there also is an influx of new players that are familiar faces but in other sports.
One of his top priorities when first-year coach David Brophy took over the program was to bolster the roster and he did that by actively talking to some of the school’s top athletes.
His efforts paid off handsomely as six players were added to the team who did not play last year.
“We’re combining the girls who played last year with the girls who haven’t been turning out and who are turning out this year,” Brophy said. “I went out and recruited varsity level athletes. … They’re all smart and athletic. So far they’ve been very motivated to be a part of what’s going on.”
Some of newcomers included junior Teryn Bouche, a tennis player, and senior Amanda Christianson, a softball player. Track standout Titi Chikoore also has come aboard. She is the team’s quickest player.
“The thing about the six girls is they’re all really good athletes,” Brophy said. “I can see in two and a half weeks that their skill level is catching up.”
Brophy predicts that the Hawks are going to be the most improved team by the end of the season.
While such an influx of new players might have been a challenge for a returning coach, Brophy doesn’t see it that way.
“I’m new also. It’s a learning curve for all of us,” he said. “(The players) sure are open to new ideas.”
Brophy admits he was surprised at the talent level of his returning players.
“They’ve got a lot of leadership ability,” he said. “All of the girls coming back are more skilled than I anticipated.”
Mountlake Terrace only won four games last season but the team was close in a lot of those games, Brophy noted.
The Hawks will be a little guard-heavy this season and Brophy hopes his team will be the one converting points with its transition game.
The team’s strength is its speed and quickness, said Brophy, who also added that “our goal is to pressure the ball without giving up rebounding position.”
Pingul, a 5-foot-7 guard, averaged a team-leading 13 points per game last year.
Despite her lack of height, Pingul is able to post up on occasion in addition to her transition and outside game.
“She’s a finisher. She handles the ball very well,” Brophy said. “She can shoot from outside pretty well. She has a nice touch around the basket.”
Brophy expects the bench to play a key role throughout the season. He expects that everybody on the varsity roster will see playing time.
“We’re trying to balance things. We’re going to play a lot of girls,” Brophy said. “Whoever is on the bench is going to play. We don’t want girls sitting there and not getting better.”
Brophy does not plan to name permanent captains. He plans rotate the responsibilities.
“I want them to share in leadership rather than think it’s somebody’s job or role,” Brophy said.
Given last year’s struggles, Brophy understands if Mountlake Terrace isn’t necessarily highly regarded. It doesn’t bother him. If the Hawks surprise some opponents, that’s fine with Brophy.
“Our goal is to finish in the top four of the 4A but more importantly it is to be playing our best basketball at the end of the season,” Brophy said.
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