SHORELINE — The learning curve for the Shorewood girls basketball team has been steep so far in summer league play at Shoreline Center’s Spartan Gym.
The young Thunderbirds have yet to win a game in June, losing to King’s, Ballard, Nathan Hale and Bothell. They played Shorecrest June 22 and finish round-robin play against Seattle Prep June 27.
“We’re taking our lumps here,” third-year coach Jeff Bernhardt said. “I hope they still have the attitude to keep pushing along.”
Shorewood went 6-12 in the Western Conference South Division last year and 7-13 overall, a three-win improvement over a 4-16 campaign in 2004-2005. The Thunderbirds graduated five seniors and return seven players who saw varsity time last year.
Leading the way is senior Jane Fleck, a 5-foot, 10-inch post who missed the second half of last season to be an exchange student in Spain.
Fleck, who led the T-birds in scoring average with 11 points per game last year, was expected to rejoin the team for the Shorecrest game. That should give the T-birds’ inside game a significant boost. Fleck is also versatile enough to play on the wing with her solid outside shot.
Sophomore Becky Farden, a 5-8 shooting guard, will be counted on to provide offense from the outside as well.
“She’s got that scoring mentality we’ve been looking for,” Bernhardt said.
Senior Rachel Eckerlin will start for the fourth consecutive year at point guard.
“Her game continues to develop which is very exciting,” Bernhardt said.
Junior Anna Ellersick serves as the backup point guard and shooting guard. Other varsity returnees include 5-10 junior forward Kelsey Allen, 5-10 junior forward Tiffanie Bronson and 5-10 junior post Tara Dorrance. Moving up from junior varsity is 6-foot sophomore post Kelsey England, the T-birds’ tallest player.
“We’re going to go as far as our younger players take us,” Bernhardt said. “Somebody’s going to need to step up. I think .500 is a reasonable goal.”
Bernhardt also said the T-birds will press a lot.
Thirteen players are out for summer ball, a number that’s “unheard of” for the Shorewood program, he said.
Jackson, along with defending Wesco South champions Meadowdale, which will move down to Class 3A next year, are the heavy favorites to be at the top of the league again.
The T-birds will attend the Western Washington University team camp July 16-20 and end the summer by playing in the Lake Washington High School tournament Aug. 10-13.
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