The good news for Snohomish County Christian School’s girls basketball team is that the majority of the players returning to the team have extensive playing experience from last year.
On the positive side of that, the team has youth on its side.
“If you call sophomores experienced, than we have a little bit,” coach Sasha Anderson said. “They all played a significant amount last year.
“They all played a lot. Most of them started.”
With just a handful of players having turned over, the Lions return as a unified front, albeit a young unified front.
“We lost one to cheerleading, one of our shooters,” Anderson added.
The eldest player is junior forward Melanie Oakland. Of the sophomores, five in all, four have been teammates and friends for years.
Tegan Cathey, Rylee Wallace and Sarah Coulson will all serve the team as guards. Tara Holgate will play at center, and newcomer Miracle Jackson will play point guard.
Jackson transferred from Franklin High School in Seattle last year, and had to sit out the season.
“Miracle’s a fast, quick, great little ball handler,” Anderson said. “She’s a great play maker, and it’s her first year of organized ball.”
Four freshmen join the team this year, but one just discovered she will miss the first month or so, hobbled by a stress fracture.
Kacie Zuspan, who also plays year-round soccer, was dealing with pain that just kept getting worse. The team got the bad news earlier this week. Zuspan wouldn’t be able to play for a while.
“We hope she can participate after the new year,” Anderson said. “She’s a great outside shooter, and very athletic.”
The three remaining freshmen, Chloe Fallon, Anna Bozlinski and Renee Crosby will serve as forwards.
Because the Lions spent last season in the fledgling Emerald City A League, they didn’t have many opportunities to see Northwest B action.
“I’ll have to do some scouting,” Anderson said.
Anderson doesn’t see the youthfulness of her players as a disadvantage.
“The last couple of years we’ve continued to build back the program,” she said. “We’re young, which is exciting.
“We may not put up as many wins, but you can see they’re in there.”
And for what it’s worth, the team seems willing to perform.
“I’m optimistic that if they give 110-percent effort, we’ll put up a lot more wins than we’ve been able to in the last few years,” Anderson said. “Obviously, I haven’t seen the other teams, but I’m confident in the ability of our girls.”
Anderson said she will rely on the mantle of leadership that has fallen on Oakland.
“We look for her to be a strong leader, to put up more points,” she said. “Her confidence is building.”
Anderson also said she was happy with Holgate, who stands two inches past six feet right now.
“She’s a great defender, and getting good at putting the ball in the hole,” Anderson said.
The coach is also pleased with the rest of her sophomores.
“Rylee, Sarah and Tegan, our three guards, have all improved over the offseason,” she said.
Because the girls are unified as friends, and unified in their faith, Anderson said it makes coaching them fun.
“I coach because I enjoy the sport, but I also coach because I adore the girls,” she said. “I’ve been with this group since they were in the seventh grade.”
So, while the team is young, it has the advantage of being a tightly knit group of comrades.
“These girls are so close. Not just teammates but the best of friends,” Anderson said. “When they’re not on the court they’re at my house, or at each other’s houses.
“We have a great rapport,” she said. “It makes them great to coach.”
Being a coach at a Christian school means that Anderson takes on a role of both physical and spiritual leader.
“I’m in that role of coach and mentor, we talk about things on and off court, basketball is great at teaching life skills,” she said. “Important life stuff.
“We bring the Word in everything we do, and commit that to the Lord.”
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